Health Minister accuses Opposition of fear mongering over medicine shortages

■ Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa refutes Opposition claims of critical medicine shortages, calling them exaggerated ■Accuses Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa of politicising issue and enabling price hikes by pharmaceutical firms ■ Urges public not to be misled by politically motivated alarmist claims lacking constructive solutions ■Acknowledges minor supply chain fluctuations, but assures stocks are available across hospitals ■Blames past Govt.'s delays in tender processes for current supply pressures ■Notes Rs. 35 b allocated for medicine procurement; 268 tenders completed in first five months ■ Assures improved supply by early next year due to reformed procurement system

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CABINET Spokesman and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday charged the Opposition for stoking public fear over potential shortages of essential medicines, insisting that the situation is being exaggerated.

Acknowledging that there is a risk of medicine shortages at all times, he said that sometimes even if one hospital is out of that particular medication, another would have it in stocks.

"There are some fluctuations in the supply chain, but the figures cited by the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa do not reflect the actual situation," Dr. Jayatissa said, responding to queries posed at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing.