• Supply to return to normal in 3 weeks confirms MSD
• Health Minister and GMOA flag procurement process shortcomings and delays 
• Cabinet approves the procurement of 400 drugs from local manufacturers 

With hospitals across the country having reported a shortage of Mixtard insulin (suspension for injection), the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD) stated that around 85,000 units of Mixtard insulin will be procured this week to meet the immediate demand.  

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (3), Deputy Director General – Medical Supplies Dr. G. Wijesuriya stated that the situation is already under control. “We have already taken measures to address this issue. We received the units from other suppliers in the market. The day before yesterday (1), we purchased 7,500 units of Mixtard insulin. We are to receive another 5,000 units very soon. Within this week, we have taken measures to purchase 85,000 units of Mixtard insulin, which is sufficient to address this temporary shortage,” he stated. 

He further mentioned that the supply will return to normal within three weeks. Health Minister, Cabinet Spokesperson and Chief Government Whip Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, also told The Daily Morning that the shortage arose due to delays in the procurement process. However, steps have now been taken to rectify the situation. 

“We should find stocks for only three weeks. Thereafter, the supply will get back to normal. The problem was in the procurement process, and we have taken measures to address the shortcomings and the delay,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Daily Morning, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said: “Due to procurement-related delays, we are facing a shortage of insulin which is essential to treat diabetes. There is one expected batch; however, that is not enough. There are several oral drugs that can be used to treat diabetes; however, these are mostly available in private hospitals and therefore are unaffordable to the local consumer. Many people make sacrifices and spend a lot of their money to go to these private hospitals and obtain these treatments.”

Elsewhere, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the list of medicines and medical supplies to be procured from identified local manufacturers for a period of one year. Speaking at the Cabinet press conference held yesterday, Dr. Jayatissa stated that the approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 14 October to purchase locally-manufactured medicines and medical supplies from identified local manufacturers for a period of one year. 

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health has prepared four lists of medicines that can be supplied by the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC), local manufacturers who have signed joint venture agreements with the SPMC, local manufacturers who have signed buy back agreements with the Ministry, and local manufacturers who are not currently contracted. 

Based on the recommendations submitted by the Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet after examining the four lists, the Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by Dr. Jayatissa to award the following procurements: Awarding the procurement for the supply of 42 types of medicines to the SPMC for a sum of Rs. 5,398.83 million, awarding the procurement for the supply of 131 types of medicines to local manufacturers who have signed joint venture agreements with the SPMC for a sum of Rs. 16,611.42 million, awarding the procurement for the supply of 36 types of medicines to local manufacturers who have signed buy back agreements with the Ministry for a sum of Rs. 9,022.10 million, and awarding the procurement of 130 types of medicines to 24 newly selected local manufacturers for a sum of Rs. 13,374.65 million.