The Health Ministry is to set up a database that can be accessed by all main hospitals in a bid to overcome the problem of drug shortages.
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the Sunday Times that the main objective would be to have accurate details of medicines and equipment required by hospitals to ensure that necessary stocks were available at all times. “Sometimes the Medical Supplies Division has the medicines but they have not reached a particular hospital or ward. Sometimes the stocks don’t reach rural areas, thereby creating shortages,” he said.
He said the project that would cost Rs. 270 million would be in place by early next year. He said one of the reasons for the shortages was the lack of information regarding stocks of drugs. “Sometimes a particular ward is not aware that their own stores has the medicines,”he said.
“People involved in various frauds may not like the system. But I have warned that all should extend their co-operation as it would benefit the health system,” he said. The minister said the government spends Rs. 16 billion on medicines and health equipment and hence the need for an efficient system to ensure there is no wastage of medicines.
He said that in the future most of the medicines would be imported on a government to government basis which would help to reduce the cost and avoid other malpractices, adding that he has discussed the matter with Indian and Bangladeshi authorities. He also said from next year saline would be produced in Sri Lanka keeping with WHO standards. The current requirement is 17,000 saline bottles a day.
The Minister also said the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (CPC) that currently produces 40 varieties of drugs would increase it to 100.
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/110821/News/nws_042.html
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