Dr. R. M. S. Rathnayake, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health, said that there is a shortage of 151 types of medicines in the Medical Supply Division of the Ministry of Health, and 22 types of medicines at the hospital level.
Mr. Rathnayake said that due to the economic crisis in the country, there was a shortage in the past due to the problem of obtaining dollars for the import of medicines, but it has been well managed so far.
However, the Additional Secretary also said that the shortage of medicines in this country will be avoided entirely next year and necessary plans have been prepared for that.
Mr. Ratnayake also said that two hundred million dollars, 100 million dollars from the Asian Infrastructure Bank and 22 million dollars from the World Bank were received to import medicines under the Indian loan scheme.
He also mentioned that in the next two or three weeks, this country is going to receive another stock of medicines.
