SL to receive 400,000 RAT kits by next week: Prof. Jayasumana

While admitting that there was a shortage of Rapid Antigen Test kits in the country, State Minister Channa Jayasumana said today Sri Lanka would receive a consignment of 400,000 RAT kits within the next week.

He told Parliament that necessary steps have already been taken to procure the required RAT kits.

Refuting claims made by former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne earlier in the day that there was a shortage of 80 essential drugs, the Minister said there was a shortage of only a few essential drugs and added that steps were also being taken to rectify the situation within the next few days.

He said there was a delay in procuring drugs due to the dollar crunch in the country.

He said arrangements are being taken to import drugs directly from India and China on loan granted by the respective countries. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)