Dr. Saman Ratnayake, Additional Secretary of the Ministry, has revealed that due to a delay in the Indian loan scheme, the procurement of 34 crucial drugs required for cancer patients is being expedited through emergency purchases.
Initially, requests for eighty-four different types of medicines were submitted as part of the Indian loan scheme; however, there has been a delay in their procurement. In response to the urgency of the situation and to prevent a shortage of vital cancer drugs, thirty-four of these medications are being acquired through emergency procurement.
Dr. Ratnayake explained that despite the initiation of emergency purchases, it will still take approximately three weeks for the medicines to arrive in the country.
He also pointed out that the shortage of these drugs has arisen due to approximately 400 tenders for medicine procurement being held up at the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka.
