Medicines in short supply: USD 18.6 mn received from WB
Sri Lanka has received USD 18.6 mn out of USD 23 mn allocated by the World Bank to meet the requirements of the health sector.
This transpired at a meeting chaired by Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at the Health Ministry on Monday (25).
A statement issued by the Health Ministry quoted lawmaker Rambukwella as having stressed the need to streamline the procurement of medicine and equipment in addition to the supplies received under the Indian credit line, Chinese grants and other donations.
The Minister has also stressed the need for the procurement of raw materials required by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (CPC).
One-time Health Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana alleged in Parliament in the run-up to the change of government in July, that the supply chain collapsed due to the failure on the part of the then CBSL Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal to provide required funding, in spite of repeated assurances given by him.
Lawmaker Jayasumana said that the promised funding was never made available although the Health Ministry made representations regarding the requirements (SF)