Discussions to allocate dollars required for drug imports for next two quarters: Keheliya

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera   

Discussions were underway with Central Bank Governor and the Finance Ministry Secretary to allocate funds required to purchase drugs for the next two quarters to prevent any drug shortage in the future, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.   

He told Parliament that USD 132 million each would be allocated for drug imports for the next two quarters.   

Responding to a question raised by SJB MP Rohana Bandara, the Minister said steps were being taken to ease the shortage in Paracetamol in the market and pointed out that local production of Paracetamol has been increased by 30 per cent.   

Responding to a question on what action had been taken to face possible issues in hospitals due to power outage, gas and fuel shortage in the country, Minister Rambukwella said the hospital network had not been affected due to the power outage as yet and added that arrangements were being made to face any possible issues in the coming days.   
“We have generators in hospitals. Some of them have not been used for a long time now. I have deployed a special team to attend to any repairs of generators in hospitals,” he said.