ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has received a donation of medicine and medical supplies worth 773,000 US dollars (approximately 279 million Sri Lankan rupees) from Americares, a non-profit organisation based in the United States, the Sri Lanka embassy in Washington D.C. said.
The donation consists of essential medicines, including prenatal and lactation vitamins, chronic disease medications, intravascular catheters, syringes, and gloves that are urgently required from the Ministry of Health, the embassy said in a joint statement with Americares.
Americares and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health have inked a memorandum of understanding to facilitate similar donations in the future.
A formal certificate handover ceremony took place at the embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C. to mark the occasion, with Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe and Deputy Medical Officer for Americares Sadhana Rajamoorthi, the statement said.
On Wednesday September 21, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella told parliament that 92 of 383 drugs are short in supply though Sri Lanka has 14 of the most vital medicines in stock.
Rambukwella admitted that there is a shortage in medicine which he claimed can be controlled. Substitutes may be sought for the medicine gap, he said.
A comprehensive report will be presented to parliament on the shortages and supply gaps in the health sector, he said. (Colombo/Sep22/2022)