Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa today acknowledged that Sri Lanka is facing a shortage of dialysis needles, citing an issue with the supplier.

Addressing the Parliament today, Minister Jayatissa explained that the supplier selected to provide the needle had failed to provide the required needle type.

He further said that, due to this reason, the government was unable to purchase the necessary dialysis needles, resulting in a shortage. 

The Health Minister said that, however, a different supplier has been selected, and that purchasing was being made from outside. 

Minister Jayatissa said that funds have been allocated to state hospitals and at the provincial level to make local purchases and ensure uninterrupted treatment for kidney patients.

He went on to note that the required supply of needles will be received by 12th October, adding that the stocks required for the main hospitals and regional Medical Supplies Divisions have already been purchased. 

“Due to the selected supplier being unable to provide the required needle type per the requirements of the Medical Supplies Division, we have opted for local purchasing to mitigate the issue,” he added. 

Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa made the remarks in response to a question raised by opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake in Parliament today. (Newswire)

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Chinese scientists have conducted a study on Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka in collaboration with a team of local scientists. 

The team of scientists who conducted the study called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees on Wednesday (July 10).

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the team of scientists has said the final report of the study will be submitted shortly.

The Chinese government, in addition to assisting the research, extended a grant for a water purification project in Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology-affected districts in Sri Lanka.

PM Gunawardena thanked China for the grant extended for water purification and research on water-borne diseases in Sri Lanka, which was initiated when he was the Minister of Water Supply.

Prof. Min Yang, Head of the Research Center for Eco Environmental Sciences in China said that under the China Sri Lanka Research Grant Project a fully-fledged Research Center for water technology has been set up in Kandy under the name China Sri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration Center (JRDC) for Water Technology.

JRDC Director Dr S K Weragoda said the Center would collaborate with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) as its insights and guidance would be invaluable in shaping the trajectory of JRDC.

The research on Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology was undertaken as it caused a new public health challenge in selected geographic areas of the country, primarily in north central and eastern dry zones.

Prof S H P P Karunaratne said that the research has verified that kidney diseases were due to the presence of calcium and fluoride in groundwater in the dry zone.

The PM said further research must be undertaken as the presence of excessive metal contents in water could be due to the use of chemical fertilizer in upcountry plantations for centuries as the rivers in the country begin from the hill country.

MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Anura Dissanayake and Chairman of National Science Foundation Prof Ranjith Senaratne took part in the discussion. The Chinese delegation included Deputy Ambassador of China Zhu Yanwei, Prof Yuansong Wei of the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences and other leading scientists and engineers. (Newswire)

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