Authorities linked to health sector responsible for medicine scarcity: GMOA

The hospital health system, Health Ministry, Central Medical Store, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC), and National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) should be held responsible for the medicine shortage prevailing in the country, the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) said.

Addressing the media, GMOA media spokesman Chamil Wijesinghe said there was no coordination among the above institutions and their lack of efficiency was the main reason for the medicine shortage in the country.

The capacity of local medicine manufacturing should be increased as the country is facing a huge dollar crisis due to issues with importing medicines.

He said the reason for the shortage of medicines in the country is the lack of efficiency of the institutions related to the supply of medicines.

Therefore, a proper mechanism should be set up to supply medicines to all the relevant parties. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)