Arthritis patients across the country continue to suffer due to a persistent shortage of essential medicines, a crisis that has now lasted for nearly five months. Despite the growing concerns, patients claim that neither health authorities nor the Minister of Health have taken adequate steps to address the issue.
Pharmacists at the Kalubowila Government Hospital report that several critical medications, including a specific treatment comprising six pills—typically administered only on Sundays—have not been available in the hospital’s dispensaries for an extended period.
It has also been revealed that certain medications intended for Sunday use are being imported without proper standards and are subsequently sold at inflated prices in some private pharmacies. In light of this, several doctors have cautioned patients against using these substandard drugs.
Repeated attempts to contact the Health Minister and Deputy Minister for clarification on the matter have been unsuccessful. Sources indicate that their mobile phones were dialed approximately 17 times, only to be met with the same recorded ringtone playing the song ‘Eka Mitakata’.
When contacted for comment, Deputy Director of the Medical Supplies Division, Mr. G. Wijesuriya, acknowledged awareness of the issue and stated that he would investigate the shortage of arthritis medication at Kalubowila Hospital. While he conceded that a general shortage of medicines exists, he emphasized the importance of also focusing on the availability of drugs currently in stock.
Meanwhile, Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa, Secretary of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), noted that the organization intends to examine whether the root cause of the shortage lies in disruptions within the supply chain or delays in importing the drugs from abroad.
Reported by: Premalal Wijeratne
