Minister of Health Ramesh Pathirana says there is a shortage of 52 essential medicines in Sri Lanka at present.
Addressing the Parliament today, Minister Pathirana said the Health Ministry had identified 862 essential medicines, stating that there was a shortage of 250 medicines last year.
However, the Health Minister pointed out that a shortage of only 52 medicines has been reported at present.
Stating that substitute medicines are available in the country for those 52 medicines, the minister said orders have been placed for some of these medicines and those orders are being received.
Minister Ramesh Pathirana further said, however, that all the life-saving medicines are available in hospitals.
The Health Minister assured that the shortage of medicines will be mitigated in the near future as the shortage will be reduced systematically. (Newswire)