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Shortage of critical drugs leaves thousands in quandary
- Sri Lanka faces a severe shortage of essential medicines, including cancer drugs, insulin, and Jeevani, affecting both state and private sectors
- Vital drugs for chronic and critical illnesses like cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, and psychiatric conditions are largely unavailable or unaffordable
- Daily Mirror investigations found key drugs missing even in private pharmacies across Colombo
- Deputy Health Minister denies shortages of common drugs but admits persistent supply chain issues
- Repeated attempts to contact Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe for comment were unsuccessful
Colombo, June 18 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka is grappling with a shortage of several medicines, including cancer drugs, insulin, and oral rehydration salts like Jeevani affecting both government hospitals and pharmacies.
A wide range of crucial drugs including those used to treat cancer, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, and infections are either unavailable or in dangerously limited supply, according to health professionals and patients.
Among the medications currently in short supply are:
• Insulin 10ml – Unavailable for over four months
• Filgrastim injection – Priced around Rs. 8,000
• Cisplatin injection – Priced around Rs. 5,000
• Diltiazem 30mg/60mg
• Phenobarbitone 30mg
• Chlorpromazine 50mg
• Imipramine 25mg
• Atropine eye drops
• Sodium Valproate syrup
• Oxybutynin 2.5mg
• Oseltamivir 30mg/45mg/75mg
• Jeevani (ORS)
Of particular concern is the lack of cancer medications, which has made it increasingly difficult for patients to access timely treatment.
Sources say they are being forced to turn to private pharmacies where prices are unaffordable.
A visit by Daily Mirror to several pharmacies in Colombo revealed a widespread shortage of drugs, including Jeevani, a commonly used oral rehydration solution, and several cancer-related injections.
Meanwhile, an informed source told Daily Mirror that many of these drugs are not available at state-run pharmacies, leaving patients to search the private market, often without success.
Repeated attempts to contact Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe for comment were unsuccessful.
However, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, in a recent media interaction, claimed that there is no shortage of commonly prescribed medications in government hospitals. He assured that treatments for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes are available without disruption.
Dr. Wijemuni acknowledged that certain other medications have been affected due to persistent supply chain issues, noting, “These disruptions are not new; they have existed for several years.”
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