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Sri Lankans overseas provide lifeline for desperate hospitals
View(s):Government doctors are once again raising the alarm over the severe shortage of essential medicines, surgical tools, and even cotton wool and gauze in state hospitals, which are getting by with aid from generous Sri Lankans working in foreign lands.
Surgeries are being delayed. Antibiotics are hard to come by.
Dr. Haritha Aluthge
As usual, corruption claims have also been made again, related to purchases of pharmaceuticals for state hospitals.
For the moment, state hospital administrators and healthcare staff are hopeful that President Wickremesinghe’s assurance on Friday will help.
“The President said money has been released to pay bills and the continuous supply of medicines will be among his top priorities,” said Dr. W.K. Wickremasinghe, the director of the National Hospital, Colombo. The President had given the assurance when he visited veteran artist, Mr Jackson Anthony at the hospital.
“Many hospitals are managing with what is released from the Medical Supplies Division, resorting to substitutes and seeking donations,” he said.
At present, consultants and doctors from national, teaching hospitals, and base hospitals, are reaching out to donors, both local and foreign. They are seeking items ranging from life-saving drugs for cancer to cotton wool. Some hospitals are delaying surgeries due to the severe shortage of surgical consumables.
Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital director, Dr D.M.S Samaraweera said there have been shortages from time to time of antibiotics, and drugs used to treat kidney, and cancer patients.
“Some essential medicines are costly and we are unable to ask the patients to buy them. We waited for the Medical Supplies Division, and sought donations especially to treat patients with renal ailments,” he said.
Eye Hospital director, Dr. Dhammika Alahapperuma, said a daily list of unavailable medicines ranging from consumables to lenses, is compiled to be sent to potential donors.
“Many hospitals are now managing with whatever is available. There are about 5,000 medicines and consumables used in our hospital. So there are shortages all the time. We need more donors to help us out. There were times when paracetamol, gauze, and plasters were not available,” he said.
“When there is a shortage, it is the staff that goes through the pressure and the struggle. This triggers unrest among doctors and other staff. I had to email my friends and students overseas. Many doctors are doing the same. Fortunately, we have strong support from Sri Lankans overseas,” said a senior consultant at a state hospital.
Dr. E. Rajapaksa of the Marawila Base Hospital, said small donations from the community and Sri Lankans working in Italy have helped.
“We had to reduce the number of surgeries requiring general anaesthesia for a week due to the non-availability of surgical requirements. However, we were able to get a donation from Australia. Now the situation is under control with medicines and equipment supplied by the MSD,” Dr. Rajapaksa said.
National Hospital pharmacy: State hospitals running out of essential drugs
Many hospitals earlier this week experienced a shortage of gauze, dressings, and even cotton wool.
Kandy National Hospital director Dr. Iresha Fernando said there are shortages, but instructions have been given about managing the limited supply. The hospital has reached out to donors, too.
The Government Medical Officials’ Association this week appointed a three-member technical panel to look into shortages of medicines.
GMOA secretary, Dr. Haritha Aluthge said 120 branch unions are collecting data and will make suggestions.
“There is a dual problem, the shortage of medicines and the sky-rocketing prices.’’
Some hospitals have less than 50% stocks of essential medicines, he said.
Several factors caused the crisis in the supply, most importantly the lack of cooperation between state entities, severely impacting the timely supply to hospitals, he said.
Dr Aluthge called for all transactions to be transparent to minimise corruption that hampers the supply of medicines.
He also called for an international desk to be established by the Health Ministry to allow individuals living abroad to donate.
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