• Around 150 meds unavailable, 100 more facing supply shortages
• No shortage of vital meds; essential meds being imported: DGHS
• Ongoing court case causing delays in MSD accepting surgical consumables 
• Hospitals need uninterrupted medical supplies to address challenges: TU

The Medical Supplies Division (MSD) is currently grappling with the unavailability of around 150 essential medicines, while stocks of around 100 more are on the brink of depletion, providing only a short-term reprieve, as learnt by The Sunday Morning. 

The gravity of the situation is highlighted by the projection that, if the current trend continues, Sri Lanka will face a shortage of approximately 250 medicines by the onset of 2024. 

This impending crisis raises questions about the Government’s preparedness and its duty to safeguard the health of its citizens.

Adding fuel to the fire is the abrupt halt in planned medicine procurements, affecting nearly 180 specific acquisitions. The halt, attributed to alleged mismanagement and irregularities, amplifies the strain on an already fragile healthcare system. 

The economic aftershocks post-Covid-19 have further exacerbated the situation, leaving healthcare professionals grappling with shortages, both in terms of essential medicines and medical equipment.

Arrangements underway to address issues

In such a backdrop, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena affirmed that there was no shortage of vital medicines in the country and arrangements had already been made to import essential medicines.

He also assured that negotiations for Government-to-Government medicine purchasing from India and Bangladesh were now at the final stage and arrangements would be made through the Government-to-Government channel, with essential medicines potentially being provided to address immediate shortages.

Dr. Gunawardena also noted that while there was a shortage of nearly 60-70 medicines at institutional levels, all vital medicines were currently available.

He explained that the MSD was not maintaining any stocks; instead, it was actively distributing available supplies.

However, he acknowledged a slight delay in accepting surgical consumables and medicines at the MSD due to an ongoing court case. The delays, he noted, were necessary to implement checks and balances in response to lapses identified during the court proceedings.

Regarding the out-of-stock items, Dr. Gunawardena assured that they were in the process of either being included in tenders or had already been received. He emphasised that efforts were underway to clear the backlog, with the shortage at the institutional level pertaining to approximately 60-70 items. 

Despite this, he reassured that all vital medicines were accessible, and measures were being taken to address the shortage of the specific items. Dr. Gunawardena clarified that the reference to out-of-stock items was because they may have already been distributed and the delay was due to awaiting the arrival of new stocks. 

Unsustainable conditions

Meanwhile, All Ceylon Nurses’ Union (ACNU) President S.B. Mediwatta outlined the daily struggles of the sector, highlighting the unsustainable conditions in hospitals. 

The surge in admissions to State hospitals due to exorbitant medicine costs in private facilities has exacerbated the stress on healthcare workers, pushing them to their limits.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Mediwatta pointed out the persistent shortages in medical supplies that had persisted since the onset of the economic crisis following the conclusion of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He stressed on the impact of elevated medicine costs in private hospitals, resulting in a surge of admissions to State hospitals, further aggravating the prevailing shortages of essential medicines.

Mediwatta noted the daily challenges faced by nurses: “Every day, there are shortages of medicines or medical equipment and nurses are doing their utmost to manage the situation. However, this is not sustainable. There needs to be an assurance that all hospitals will receive an uninterrupted medical supply.”

Since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, healthcare workers have shouldered increased workloads. Mediwatta highlighted the critical nature of the situation, likening it to a volcano on the verge of eruption beneath a deceptive surface of apparent normalcy. 

The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) recently hinted at a potential two-month pause in importing medicines, pointing towards setbacks in the procurement process. 

In response to inquiries by The Sunday Morning, SPC Managing Director Dinusha Dasanayake acknowledged shortages in the local market and verified delays in the procurement process. He noted: “The Ministry of Health is currently in the process of bringing down identified medicines from India.”

Urgent situation 

Amidst these challenges, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has also voiced its concerns regarding the ongoing shortages of medicines. 

GMOA Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesekera noted that a significant number of medicines and medical equipment remained in short supply, attributing this to the mismanagement within the Ministry of Health.

Expressing the urgency of the situation, Dr. Wijesekera highlighted the need for the Government to promptly address the shortages before they escalated into a severe crisis. He urged authorities to take immediate measures to rectify the medicine supply system, warning that the healthcare system could collapse if decisive actions were not taken.

Calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the supply system, Dr. Wijesekera stressed the importance of making it sustainable in order to ensure a continuous and adequate supply of medicines. 

While Sri Lanka has grappled with intermittent medicine shortages in the past, the recent severe economic crisis, stemming from a dire shortage of foreign exchange, has intensified the situation, placing additional strain on the healthcare system.

Sri Lanka, heavily dependent on imports for 85% of its medicines and medical equipment, stands at an unprecedented low. 

The economic crisis, coupled with a dire shortage of foreign exchange, has exacerbated the situation. Emergency medicine purchases are underway, sparking debates on the quality and pricing of medications procured through expedited mechanisms.