Patients forced to pay triple the cost for essential medicines due to shortages, claims Doctors’ Union

Colombo, July 2 (Daily Mirror) - The President of the Medical and Civil Rights Doctors' Trade Union Alliance, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, has alleged that shortages of medicines and surgical equipment in government hospitals and the private healthcare sector have led to patients facing exorbitant costs when purchasing essential medical supplies from private vendors.

Speaking on the issue, Dr. Sanjeewa claimed that certain medicines currently in short supply are being sold at prices more than three times their standard market value. As an example, he pointed to lignocaine-based anaesthetic ointments, which he said should retail at around 150 Indian rupees, equivalent to approximately Rs. 600 in Sri Lanka, but are currently being sold for nearly Rs. 2,000.

He further alleged that the scarcity of medicines has created an environment in which private sector suppliers are charging excessive prices, while criticizing the National Medicines Regulatory Authority for what he described as insufficient regulatory action and enforcement measures.

Dr. Sanjeewa also claimed that unregistered medicines continue to enter the country illegally by sea, adding that several such consignments had recently been detected and seized by the Sri Lankan Customs Department and the Navy.

Warning of the potential consequences, he said that unless the government takes urgent steps to address medicine shortages and strengthen regulation, patients could be forced to purchase substandard medicines at inflated prices, potentially placing their health at greater risk.