Govt. owes more than Rs. 8Bn to medicine suppliers: Minister

• Says will settle overdue payments within this month

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

The Medical Supplies Division has not settled a payment of Rs. 8.1 billion to the suppliers of medicines, Minister of Health Ramesh Pathirana said yesterday.

He told Parliament that Rs. 4 billion out of the outstanding amount is more than three months overdue. The Minister said this in response to a question by SJB MP S.M. Marikkar.

The Minister said steps will be taken to settle the payments which are overdue for more than three months within this month.

Responding to a question whether the overdue payment will affect the supply of medicines in the future, the Minister said hospitals have been allocated funds to make local purchases and that the supply chain will not be affected.

The Minister said steps will be taken to settle the payments which are overdue for more than three months within this month.

Responding to a question whether the overdue payment will affect the supply of medicines in the future, the Minister said hospitals have been allocated funds to make local purchases and that the supply chain will not be affected.