Keheliya Rambukwella, the minister of health, said today that he would resign from his position if his department couldn’t find a way to pay for the necessary medications.
Speaking in front of the legislature, Minister Rambukwella identified two main causes for the current medication scarcity in Sri Lanka.
“First off, there is a problem with getting the money needed to buy drugs. To remedy the problem, a meeting with the ministry of finance has been set, he said.
The second point made by the Health Minister was that the Ministry’s procedures for purchasing medicines are being impacted by some court decisions.
“We decided to change the way drugs are purchased and got Cabinet permission at the same time. The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case that asks the court to issue a directive prohibiting the purchase of medications through this method. Such acts stall the Ministry’s efforts to find solutions, he continued.
Keheliya Rambukwella, the health minister, added that he has no plans to stay in the position if the ministry is unable to secure the funding required to address the problem of the pharmaceutical shortage.
In response to a query posed by MP Sajith Premadasa, leader of the opposition, the Minister made the comments.
