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Several hospitals running out of drugs, surgical consumables

12 Apr 2022

 
  • Drugs include medications used to treat low neutrophil count, cancer, and serious blood cell disorders caused by certain drugs and immunosuppressants
  • Surgical consumable items include urethral catheters, syringes, glucose drips, dialysers, close-wound suction bottles, and respirometers
  BY Buddhika Samaraweera Despite the State Ministry of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals having claimed that all pharmaceutical drugs are being received in manageable quantities, several hospitals are running out of many drugs and surgical consumable items at present, The Morning learnt. According to several hospitals islandwide, many drugs and surgical consumable items have been identified to be in deficit or not available at all. Sources also said that several surgical consumable items such as the urethral catheter (14, 16 and 18 grammes), 10 cubic centimetres syringes, glucose drips, dialysers, close wound suction bottles and respirometers are either in deficit or not available at hospitals at present, adding that they are now in the process of gathering information and preparing a list of such. Among the drugs that are in deficit or unavailable at hospitals are: Filgrastim (medication used to treat low neutrophil count), Paclitaxel (a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of types of cancer), Anastrozole (used to treat early hormone receptor-positive breast cancer), Imatinib (a type of cancer-growth blocker), Capecitabine (a chemotherapy medication used to treat breast cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer), Chlorambucil (an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug), Melphalan (a chemotherapy medication), Doxorubicin Hydrochloride (an anti-cancer medicine), Cytarabine (a chemotherapy medication), Etoposide (a chemotherapy medication), Leucovorin (medication is used to treat or prevent serious blood cell disorders caused by certain drugs), Procarbazine (a chemotherapy medication), Irinotecan (a medication used to treat colon cancer and small cell lung cancer), Azathioprine (an immunosuppressive medication), Rituximab (used to treat certain types of cancer), Exemestane (a medication used to treat breast cancer), Abiraterone (a medication used to treat prostate cancer), Mercaptopurine (a medication used for cancer and autoimmune diseases), Goserelin (a medication which is used to suppress the production of the sex hormones, particularly in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer), Lenalidomide (used to treat various types of cancers), Megestrol (medication is used to treat cancer of the breast or uterus) and Sorafenib (used to treat kidney, liver, and thyroid cancer). However, claiming that several parties are attempting to agitate the public for personal gain by publicising that there is a shortage of pharmaceutical drugs in the country, State Ministry Secretary Dr. S.K. Rathnayake said on 7 April that all drugs are being received in manageable quantities.  He said: “Certain groups are currently staging a drama saying that there is a shortage of pharmaceutical drugs. They do this for various personal gains. There is no shortage of drugs as such. Even with a delay of a week or two due to issues caused by the prevailing US dollar deficit, all the drugs are being received in manageable quantities.” He said that there was a shortage of 10 life-saving drugs in the last few days, adding however that nine of them are now available in the country in required quantities while the other is still in short supply. He added that other stocks of drugs are sometimes depleted due to issues in issuing letters of credit, but noted that new stocks continue to arrive. Meanwhile, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) staged a protest in front of the Health Ministry on 6 April, demanding that the Government immediately address the shortage of essential pharmaceutical drugs in the country and provide the necessary financial allocations for the health services on time. Speaking to the media on the day, GMOA General Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando stated that although the GMOA had, on a number of occasions, requested former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella for an opportunity to discuss the shortage of essential drugs in the country, they had not been given an opportunity. Dr. Fernando also accused the Government of not providing accurate information to the public and the health staff including doctors about the shortage of drugs despite the crisis. He added that in the face of the shortage of drugs, doctors would even have to limit certain treatments as they would have to save on drugs for emergencies.


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