No medicine shortage, Minister of Health assures

Colombo (News 1st): The 28 million USD grant provided by China, has been utilized to ensure the supply of 14 vital medicines required, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

An allocation of 200 million USD from the Indian credit line has been made to cater to the needs of the health sector, the Minister added.

This is in response to concerns raised by Members of Parliament regarding the on-going rumours regarding the shortage of medicine in the country, at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health, held recently in Parliament.

Concerns were also raised on excessive charges in private hospitals in a context where free health is facing challenges to meet the demand due to the forex crisis.

"By next year approximately a 25 - 30 percent of rise in those who will resort to government hospitals, is unavoidable. He adds that it has come to a point where the middle-income category cannot afford private hospital facilities further", the minister said.