Health Minister Maithrepala Sirisena has instructed his officials to local purchase the expensive Cancer Drugs for the benefit of the large number of Cancer Patients getting treatment at the Sri Lanka’s only Government owned Mharagama Cancer Hospital due to the delay of supplying them by the Foreign Cancer Drug Supplier who awarded the tender of supplying these drugs.
According to the Health Ministry Sources the Ministry has to spend Rs.35 billion if they are to local purchase out of stock cancer drugs from the Private sector.
The Foreign Supplier of these Cancer Drugs is an Indian Drug Company and they delaying the supplying of these drugs since March,2010 according to the sources.As a result there is a shortage of around 25 Cancer Drugs at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital which the majority are to be supplied by the above supplier.