By: Staff Writer
June 02, Colombo (LNW): In response to ongoing disruptions in the medicine supply chain, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health and Mass Media has announced plans to secure essential medicines through direct assistance from foreign governments. This interim measure aims to ensure the uninterrupted availability of critical medical supplies until the local procurement process stabilizes.
The Ministry stated that a Cabinet Paper was recently submitted and approved, leading to the formation of a high-level committee tasked with overseeing the direct procurement mechanism. The proposal, endorsed by the National Procurement Commission, will be resubmitted to the Cabinet for final approvals before implementation.
The newly appointed committee is chaired by Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe and includes senior representatives from key ministries including Finance, Industry, Trade, Foreign Affairs, and the Attorney General’s Department. On May 29, the committee met to outline initial steps for launching the foreign procurement process and to coordinate swift actions to restore medicine supply levels.
“This committee will ensure that all necessary measures are taken to complete preliminary tasks quickly and guarantee the continuous supply of essential medicines, medical equipment, and related services,” the Ministry said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni has addressed concerns raised in the media about a reported shortage of 180 types of medicines in hospitals. He clarified that while shortages exist, only around 40 types are currently unavailable at the hospital level. The broader figure, he explained, includes temporary deficits mainly at the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) in Colombo.
“The shortage has been a long-standing issue, worsened by the recent economic crisis. There are still disruptions, but they do not affect the entire country equally,” Dr. Wijemuni said.
He emphasized that the government has allocated a higher budget this year for medicine procurement and is taking steps to allow hospitals to purchase medicines directly when necessary. This, he believes, will reduce reliance on the central supply system and prevent shortages from escalating.
One key solution under consideration is maintaining a three-to-six-month buffer stock of essential medicines at the MSD. This would help mitigate delays caused by supply chain issues or tendering inefficiencies. Dr. Wijemuni stressed that this stockpile would be acquired through a legal, transparent, and quality-assured process.
“We’re not compromising on quality. The idea is to maintain a stable supply and eliminate disruptions—not to import substandard medicines,” he affirmed.
As Sri Lanka navigates its economic recovery, the Ministry’s strategy to collaborate with foreign governments for medical procurement reflects a focused effort to ensure public access to life-saving treatments, even amid persistent logistical and financial challenges.
