The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna

¶ 01 Hon. Minister, before my Supplementary, let me note: despite what the written reply says regarding Malwathuhiripitiya, in reality services are hampered due to staff shortages, and there is even a notion to close the hospital. This hospital is near my residence; I know well services have been curtailed. Please look into this beyond the officials’ notes; a personal inspection would help.

¶ 02 My first Supplementary: shortages affect not only cancer medicines but almost all hospitals. I highlighted cancer due to the severity for those patients, but across hospitals we see private pharmacies right outside because hospital pharmacies lack many items. If five drugs are prescribed, the hospital may have only one or two; the rest must be purchased outside. With the economic crisis, the medicines situation worsened and has not fully normalized. Doctors say the main reason is delays and issues in ordering and the procurement process. I seek your response on rectifying the medicines procurement mechanism.