Medicine to be delivered for Rs. 75 regardless of distance or weight - Postmaster General

COLOMBO (News 1st): People of this country have been immensely careful when purchasing medicine these days due to the prevailing health concerns. However, Post Master General - Ranjith Ariyaratne says that medicine will be delivered at your doorstep for Rs. 75 regardless of the weight or the distance. These medicines will be issued only to the patients who are attending clinics at Government Hospitals. Director of Primary Care Services at the Ministry of Health, Doctor Priyantha Atapattu explained this initiative furthermore. Commenting on the situation he said:

"You can call the hospital you are receiving treatment from and mention your clinic number and the name of the clinic. Then state your postal address and a telephone number to contact you. After that, the medicine will be packed and sent to the Postal Department. They will take care of the distribution. Let's say that someone is receiving treatment from the National Hospital but lives in Awissawella, then you can go to the nearest hospital and produce your prescription. Then that hospital will give the medicine that they have. As they have been informed, they will get the remaining medicine from the relevant clinics."

Meanwhile Post Master General, Ranjith Ariyaratne said:

"We are currently distributing the medicine. We will distribute them to Anamaduwa and Padaviya today. Officials of the Postal Department have undertaken this responsibility. We will charge Rs. 75 to control the price and will deliver these packets of medicine to your doorstep regardless of the weight and the distance. These packets will be distributed according to the lists provided by Osu Sala outlets."

 KEGALLE Prescriptions for patients were checked and medicines packed today at the Kegalle General Hospital and the medicine will be distributed with the assistance of the Postal Department. UDAWALAWA According to the District Medical Officer at the Udawalawa Hospital, a plan is in place to support the Postal Department by providing workforce from their staff in this endeavour. Data was gathered today in line with that plan.  GAMPOLA Meanwhile, a special discussion took place at the Gampola - Udapalatha Divisional Secretariat to seek answers for the lack of medicine. Patients who came to buy medicine at the Gampola Base Hospital were severely impacted after there was no medicine.  BIBILE A program has been started to visit the areas under the Divisional Secretariats of Bibile and Medagama and conduct clinics for the patients in the areas. This step has been taken by the Medical Superintendent at the Bibile Hospital to prevent patients from gathering at the hospital.