Will not continue as Health Minister if I fail to address drug shortage

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Claiming that financial issues and court decisions have been an obstacle to resolving the drug shortage, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday he would no longer function as the Health Minister if he could not address the drug shortage in the country.   

The Minister told Parliament that he was meeting officials of the Finance Ministry to discuss the issues regarding drug procurement.

“Court decisions have been an obstacle to resolve the drug shortage. The Supreme Court has halted emergency purchases following a petition against such purchases. The procurement process takes about nine months. As per the NMRA Act, we have the authority to make emergency purchases. The second reason is the financial issue. I am meeting the Acting Finance Minister and Ministry officials yesterday evening to discuss the matter. I have taken a decision not to remain in the position any more if I am unable to find ways to address the drug shortage, as it is an injustice to society and this service. I have to take responsibility for the issue, whatever reason I can cite,” he said, responding to a question by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on the drug shortage.

Responding to another question by the opposition leader on the deaths caused by an anaesthetic drug administered at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, the Minister said a comprehensive investigation has been launched into the incident.

He said relevant doctors were summoned to the Health Ministry yesterday regarding the matter. Responding to an allegation by the Opposition Leader that two children at Peradeniya Hospital have died due to the use of an anaesthetic drug, the Minister said deaths that occurred at the Peradeniya Children’s Hospital were not due to the anaesthetic drug.
He said the particular anaesthetic drug is not administered to children at all and added that a separate investigation needs to be done to ascertain what caused the children’s deaths.