May 10, Colombo: The Health Ministry of Sri Lanka has decided to introduce pills instead of intravenously administered medications for the treatment of thalassemia patients.

The Health Ministry announced that they have already ordered the pills and it would be dispatched to all the hospitals soon after it is received.

According to the Ministry figures, there are approximately 1,600 thalassemia patients in the island, especially in the North-West, North-Central, and Uva regions.

Health officials believe the treatment with pills would be more convenient for the children who are suffering from thalassemia.