Apeksha Hospital Director refutes reports of drug shortage for patients

The Director of the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama has refuted media reports claiming that there was a shortage of essential drugs for patients at the hospital.

Issuing a statement, Director of the Hospital Dr Vijith Gunasekara said steps have been taken to ensure patients at the hospital are supplied with the drugs they require without any obstruction. 

However, he acknowledged that the hospital faced "challenges" when providing drugs to patients during the recent past due to issues faced by drug suppliers and the drug supplying mechanism in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As of now, under the direct supervision of State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals and the Ministry Secretary, steps have been taken to expedite the tender process to bring down the required drugs to patients, the director added. 

Until these drugs are received, approval has been given to purchase the drugs required by patients at the provincial level. Accordingly, a proper mechanism is now in place to ensure that patients receive the drugs they require without delay, he further said.

As such, Dr Gunasekara claimed there was no truth to certain newspaper reports regarding a shortage of drugs at the hospital.