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Vital cancer drug ‘bevacizumab’ in short supply

19 Oct 2021

BY Pamodi Waravita A drug known as “bevacizumab”, vital for the treatment of a number of cancers affecting a number of organs in the body and usually administered as an injection, is in short supply around Sri Lanka, The Morning learnt. “This drug is administered on a bi-weekly basis. However, it was not there at the National Cancer Institute/Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, this month, and we have also not been able to find it from any supplier either. The authorities are silent on the matter,” family members of a patient told The Morning yesterday (18). Speculation is rife as to whether there are issues in the import of said drug to the country. When contacted, Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry Secretary Dr. R.M.S.K. Rathnayake told The Morning that the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) has been informed of the medicines supply-related needs in the country, adding that it is the SPC that is responsible for their procurement.  However, The Morning’s attempts to contact SPC Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, Health Ministry Communications Director, Deputy Director General of Public Health Services, and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath, and National Cancer Institute/Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama Deputy Director Dr. L. Poddalgoda proved futile. Earlier this year, Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegeya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about the shortage of the tocilizumab drug in Parliament, noting an urgent need for it as it is deemed essential for the treatment of Covid-19 patients who are in critical condition.


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