A medicine shortage does not exist: Bandula

COLOMBO (News 1st); Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena says that a medicine shortage in the island does not exist according to his knowledge. 

Speaking at the Cabinet Media Briefing on Tuesday (16), the Minister said that the Minister of Health has not specified any such shortage, and said that there is currently no shortage of medicines in the island. 

Meanwhile, the National Hospital in Kandy has fallen victim to the medicine shortage in the country.

The functions of the hospital have been affected, as patients continued to lament that they cannot obtain the necessary medication.

Patients, who came to obtain treatment, stated that they had to go to regional hospitals or to private hospitals to obtain medicine, as the hospitals are experiencing a medicine shortage. 

In the meantime, Health Trade Union Collective engaged in a protest in front of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital on Tuesday (16), insisting for the Government to provide hospitals with the necessary medicine. 

They alleged that patients continue to die due to the medicine shortage, and demanded for the Government to let them continue at least the essential services, in a proper manner.