• MoH database indicates stock availability as zero at MSD, institutions and nationally
• Health Minister blames suppliers’ disputes and SPC for delays
• Says will seek to expedite deliver from successful suppliers

A new stock of Intraocular lens, once widely used to provide sight for thousands suffering with cataract clouding, may not be available in the public health system for another month or two, The Ministry of Health said yesterday (3).

This, despite the Cabinet of Ministers approving the purchase of Intraocular lens in January. 

Over a period of eight months, disputes between suppliers, bureaucratic red tape and other interference delayed the supply of the lenses, depriving thousands the ‘gift of sight’.

Meanwhile, the online medicine and pharmaceutical availability database hosted on the Ministry of Health website indicated zero stocks at the Medical Supply Division (MSD) and at hospitals. The national stocks were also reported as zero, as of last evening (3).  

According to the Secretary to the Ministry of Health Janaka Sri Chandraguptha, a Cabinet-appointed tender committee has been instructed to urgently finalise the awarding of a tender this week to purchase the lenses.

When asked how long the process will take to import lenses to Sri Lanka, Chandraguptha said that “I think there are some lenses available at some institutions. The Cabinet-appointed tender board will have to take a decision tomorrow (4). The procedure is to then take the matter to the Cabinet for approval. If awarded, it may take a month or two for the complete stocks to arrive.”

Chandraguptha said that the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) was put in charge to import intraocular lenses, following the Cabinet decision in January. However, due to a dispute between two suppliers and the bureaucracy of the SPC had delayed tenders being awarded, with none awarded up to date.

Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella acknowledged that Sri Lanka had run out of stock of Intraocular lens, and that planned cataract surgeries had been postponed. Responding to a question by The Daily Morning said that he has been pushing the Cabinet-appointed tender board to expedite the process. Rambukwella stressed that the dispute between suppliers and slow process at the SPC had delayed tenders being placed.

“The cabinet approved funds for this purchase in January. But there is a mess. Suppliers are at dispute with each other, there are appeals, and some of the officials at the SPC were moving slowly,” the health minister charged. The minister blamed the SPC for breaking up the purchase into multiple tenders and complicating matters. He opined that it was one of the contributing reasons for some of the SPC officials being replaced.  

According to Rambukwella, the purchase has to be approved by the Cabinet-appointed tender board as the value of it exceeds Rs.500,000 million. He stressed that the MoH was pushing to expedite the matter. When asked about how long it will take for the supplies to be replenished, the minister stated that normally it could take a month or more. However, he added  “Once the tender is given, we will discuss with the supplier and explore options to see if the stock can be airlifted.”