brand logo

Health Ministry denies only half of MSD stocks left

27 Apr 2022

  • Slams Govt Pharmacists’ ‘misleading’ claim
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Health Ministry has rejected the recent statement made by the Society of Government Pharmacists (SGP) that about 50% of the stocks of medical supplies in the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) of the Ministry have been exhausted. Speaking to The Morning, Health Ministry Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General, and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said: “As far as I know, there are about 14,000 medical supplies in the MSD, so 50% of that would be a very large amount. It is a misleading statement that there is such a shortage.” He said that there are ample ways to manage the shortage of medical supplies in the country so that patients would not be harmed, adding that the Ministry is currently taking all necessary steps towards this end.  “In the current situation, we have limited some non-essential medical tests and there are alternatives for treatment. There is a shortage of medical supplies now, so we cannot say that there is no such shortage. However, all necessary steps are being taken to overcome this. There are plenty of other things that can be done to prevent any injustice from being caused to the patients, in the face of drug shortages,” Dr. Herath explained. Speaking further, he said that pharmaceutical drugs and other medical supplies are being used sparingly as a solution to the shortage. He added that talks are also underway with international agencies such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Health Organisation on drug procurement. In addition, he said, several other short-term and long-term solutions are currently being considered. The SGP claimed last week that about 50% of the stocks of medical supplies in the MSD have been exhausted. Speaking to The Morning at the time, SGP President Ajith Thilakaratne alleged that out of the 1,358 medicines that should be in the MSD, stocks of 525 have depleted, among which are six life-saving drugs, 239 essential drugs, and 280 rarely used drugs.  “Especially drugs that are used to treat heart patients, as well as the rabies vaccine, are out of stock. Most of them are scheduled to be imported under the Indian credit facility, but it will take another six weeks’ time,” he further claimed.  Thilakaratne also claimed that out of the 8,553 surgical items required to be in the MSD, stocks of 5,376, which is 62.9% of the total requirement, have been depleted. Noting that the above drugs and surgical items may be available in very small quantities in hospitals, he said that the lack of medical supplies in the MSD to be issued to hospitals could lead to a collapse of the hospital system. “We, the SGP, informed the relevant parties four months ago that this situation was going to arise but there was no acceptable intervention for that. As pharmacists, we are still trying to manage this situation as much as possible,” he added. The MSD is the main organisation responsible for providing all pharmaceuticals, surgical items, laboratory items, radioactive items, printed materials, etc., for government sector healthcare institutions throughout the country, as well as the central organisation where these medical supplies are stored until they are distributed among healthcare institutions.  In addition, the MSD is also responsible for supplying essential medical items that are not available to the private sector in the open market.


More News..