The Sri Lanka Medical Association warns that the shortage of drugs and medical equipment in the health sector will become more serious in the future if urgent intervention is not done.
Its representatives expressed their opinion in this regard while holding a news conference in Colombo.
Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, said,
“Currently, the lack of medicines, surgical equipment, laboratory materials, etc., has affected the entire system.”
Dr. Anoma Perera, President of the College of Anesthetists and Intensive Care Physicians noted,
“If we do not intervene in this situation immediately, we will have to face a big crisis in the next few months.”
Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, a physiologist at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, said,
“Currently, some hospitals do not have the necessary facilities to conduct blood tests. X-rays are now printed by cutting the paper on which X-rays were printed in four parts. 80% of the drugs imported under the Indian financial facility are not registered drugs in Sri Lanka. It is a serious situation. Stop importing these unnecessary drugs.”