Health Minister Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday (14) instructed to the relevant departments to order medicines sufficient for three months instead of one month.
This will reduce the shortage of medicines and medical equipment that may occur in the future, the Minister noted.
The Minister stated so at a discussion held at the Health Ministry premises where ministry officials and suppliers participated.
Minister Rambukwella also gave instructions to pay close attention to the maximum use of the Indian Credit Line for the health sector. He also told officials to take necessary measures to apply the Indian Credit Line programme in a more effective manner for the country.
The country will receive the necessary medicines and medical equipment for the next six months under the aid programmes of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the United Nations office for Project Services, the Ministry noted.
Rambukwella noted that even when the Indian Credit Line is over, medicine supply should continue unabated and steps should be taken to receive the other donations and aid more efficiently. The Minister pointed out that steps should be taken to speed up the programmes for obtaining aid, including AIA.
In the meantime, under the Indian credit line facility, US$ 50 million has been allocated to the private sector to buy essential medicines and medical equipment and the minister instructed the relevant suppliers to use it for the related purchases as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Minister Rambukwella also met with the private pharmacy owners’ association and the problems in the field were discussed. In particular, the existing problems regarding the raw materials required for the production of medicines, as well as the problems caused by the increase in the price of medicines were discussed.
The minister pointed out that it is a need of the hour to update the Act by changing the outdated laws and regulations of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority.
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