Donors have no trust in Govt. or health ministry to give essential medicines: GMOA

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) requests the government to implement a transparent mechanism to import medicine and medical equipment as the donors have no trust in the government or with the Health Ministry.

Addressing the media, GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando said there is a shortage of 237 essential medicines in hospitals, mainly given to patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD), cancer, diabetics and even patients with mild infectious diseases like fever, cough and cold.

"This crisis has emerged as a result of the huge depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar. He said that mainline pharmaceutical companies and importers are unable to manufacture or import the required medicines as they are high in price.

This medicine shortage has affected all government and private hospitals as well as all pharmacies in the country, Dr. Fernando said.

He said the essential medicine list had been issued by the Health Ministry following a request from the GMOA.

Fortunately, several donors spoke to us, but they claimed that they had no trust in the government or in the health ministry, he said.

Therefore, the GMOA requests the government to take immediate action to import the essential medicines in a transparent mechanism and to distribute them among the hospitals. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)