Former Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne says Sri Lanka is facing a shortage of over 380 medicinal drugs, including essential medicines, at present.
Speaking to reporters, Rajith Senaratne revealed that all hospitals, including state hospitals, have stopped conducting blood tests over the last four months.
“They are conducting it through laboratories. The blood tests are done from outside, with patients spending money. During my tenure, I prohibited tests from being conducted outside of the hospital. All tests were done in-house for free. But today, they are being conducted for money,” he said.
Rajitha Senaratne said that patients undergoing surgery are now provided with a list of medical supplies, adding; “ A doctor recently told me that a patient is provided with a list amounting to at least Rs. 50,000 for a bypass surgery, while some could go as high as Rs. 100,000.”
The former Health Minister questioned how patients are managing under such circumstances, having to face sudden expenses of between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 100,000 for medical expenses. (Newswire)