Stocks sufficient only for three months, pharmaceutical shortage imminent!
Chandika Gankanda, President of the All Ceylon Private Pharmacy Owners’ Association (ACPPOA) said that there is a huge shortage of drugs as the current stock of drugs is due to finish in three months.
He pointed out that there is a shortage of 5% of drugs required by the country.
“Drugs are labeled by various brands. Many pharmacies give customers alternative brands when the prescribed brand is out of stock. With the current backup stocks, this practice cannot be sustained for long,” he said.
He believes that if the government does not intervene, the shortage of drugs will be a bigger problem than the shortage of cement, household gas and milk powder.
“As everything in the country is based on people’s health, we cannot think of a future if the people are suffering from illness,” he said.