Medicine shortage due to procurement delays, not finances: Health Minister

21 September 2025 10:05 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 9 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

A A A

Ampara, September 21, (Daily Mirror) - The ongoing shortage of medicines in the country is the result of procurement delays and not financial difficulties, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Speaking at a ceremony in Ampara, the Minister said procurement processes for importing medicines have already been initiated, and the required stocks are expected to arrive after November.

“Some medicines are not available in the private market or in pharmacies. We do not allow registration with unlimited pricing during the drug registration process. A price range has been set based on the current market conditions in South Asian countries. Those unwilling to adhere to this framework are not supplying medicines,” he explained.

Dr. Jayatissa added that the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) has already been assigned to call tenders, with about 80–85% of the work completed. “The medicines we ordered are scheduled to arrive after November,” he assured.

Commenting on halted development projects, the Minister noted that delays had placed an additional financial burden on the treasury. “There are 17 projects in Sri Lanka that had been stopped and restarted. These projects have now cost the treasury Rs. 59 billion. If they had been completed as scheduled in 2018, 2020, or 2022, only Rs. 29 billion would have been spent,” he said.

Comments - 9

Colombo Citizen Sunday, 21 September 2025 10:37 AM

Please work and deliver the goods to poor people. You can not cure them by giving petty reasons.

2 16

Doctor nhs Sunday, 21 September 2025 12:11 PM

Worst health minister, with big mouth. Earlier told no shortage, now trying to justify as usual

2 21

Dr. Dee esquire Sunday, 21 September 2025 01:07 PM

We thought it was all the past 75 years governments faults?

1 13

Lk Sunday, 21 September 2025 02:51 PM

We know a lot of civil servants and professionals and traders delaying all this to discredit the government and please fire some of those top people and replace them with good people to speed up

3 1

S P Sunday, 21 September 2025 06:04 PM

Couldn’t it be the inability of the minister to manage the officialdom under him? Under capable ministers like Pathirana and Rajitha the same civil servants performed quite differently!

0 1

Herman Perera Sunday, 21 September 2025 03:10 PM

Why don't you get some advice from KEHELIYA how to get the medicines.

2 0

Come on Minister Sunday, 21 September 2025 07:27 PM

Procurement delays, not finances? Fix the problem Minister. Your job doesn't end after you provide finances? You have to ensure that there is no Medicine shortage among other responsibilities in running the Health Ministry . That is your responsibility.

0 1

R Navaratnam Monday, 22 September 2025 05:14 AM

Mr Health Minister: You are playing with life and death. Therefore, I am sorry; your message is not right. , Yor are in power for more than nine months and this should have ben fixed. Everyday is late so, expedite the procurement pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

0 0

Ashraff Jainudeen Tuesday, 23 September 2025 12:34 PM

Most inefficient and ineffective Health Minister so far despite being a medical Doctor himself. He can't punish the poor vulnerable patients just because he is not capable of managing his officials. Health services in the country is suffering due to this Minister's failure. This is not what we expected from the NPP government.

0 0

222

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.