Medicine shortage

14 September 2010 08:34 pm

By Indika Sri Aravinda

Patients suffering from mood disorders have been placed in a difficult situation as a medicine named ‘Lithium’ given to these patients is out of stocks in pharmacies. 

Speaking to Daily Mirror online, the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Specialist Dr. Jayaan Mendis said the hospital had prescribed this medication to those who had left the hospital after they had received in-house treatment. 

Lithium is only available in government hospitals including the mental hospital in Angoda and cannot be bought even at the Osu sala.

Dr. Mendis also said that if patients suffering from mood disorders do not take the medication as prescribed, the illness may increase and patients would have to be hospitalized.  (Daily Mirror online)