A shortage of supply of certain drugs occurred due to the delay in opening Letters of Credit in time amid the difficulty in finding foreign currency, the Health Ministry said contradicting a statement issued by the Government Information Department yesterday claiming that there is no shortage of medicines and surgical equipment.

Several solutions have been identified to that effect, and they are being implemented, the Ministry said. One of them is to open Letters of Credit under the Indian Credit line facility and order drugs and equipment. The second is the US$10 million fund received from the World Bank to buy drugs. In addition, the Ministry has started discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

At the same time, a request has been made to international agencies, foreign nationals and Sri Lankan expatriates to make donations or provide essential drugs. The Ministry states that it has already received positive responses in that regard.

The Health Ministry pointed out that the Press Release issued yesterday by the Department of Government Information should be corrected accordingly. The particular Press Release quoting an official source stated that there was no drug shortage in Government hospitals.

The Government Information Department yesterday said the government hospitals have adequate supply of medicines and surgical equipment and confirmed that there is no shortages as reported by social media issuing a statement containing data on medicines and surgical equipment in government hospitals in the Western Province.