Colombo (LNW): There is an outstanding bill amounting to about Rs. 13 billion that needs to be settled with medicine importers, the Ministry of Health disclosed.
Funds required for the settlement have already been requested from the Treasury, and the Treasury agreed to release the funds in stages, according to a senior Ministry official.
In the occurrence of non-payment of outstanding bills, some medicine importers are reluctant to supply medicines, but the shortage of essential medicines in the country has declined to 161, he added.
Orders are underway to procure medicines and the stocks are due to arrive over the next few weeks under several phases, the Ministry noted.
