Medicine shortage: USD 100 million allocated to purchase essential drugs

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has agreed to provide USD 100 million for the purchase of essential medicines and medical supplies. 

The bank has agreed to provide the funds focusing on the foreign exchange crisis faced by the country, the Government Information Department said. 

The funds will be provided by revising the scope of the project to assist Colombo Urban Regeneration Project and the Reduction of Landslide Vulnerability by Mitigation Measures project funded by the bank.

Accordingly, the Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to use funds of USD 70 million from the Project to assist Colombo Urban Regeneration Project and US$ 30 million from Reduction of Landslide Vulnerability by Mitigation Measures project for the purchase of essential medicines and medical supplies.

The Sunday Times reported last week that some hospitals’ staff say they only have a few days’ supply of life-saving medicines for non-communicable diseases, eye care and cancer treatment.

The shortage has been caused by a disruption in supply chains and distribution networks and delays in opening letters of credit (LCs) for want of foreign exchange. As a result, the ministry was unable to place orders for regular imports as it had done before the crisis.

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