Doctors’ Union Raises Concerns Over Medicine and Medical Equipment Shortages at National Children’s Hospital

The Doctors’ Professional Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights has raised concerns over the availability of medicines and medical equipment in the country, particularly at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo.

Speaking at a media briefing, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the alliance, said the supply of medicines had become a serious issue in the country.

He referred to the official website of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, which lists items that can be donated to the hospital. According to him, the website includes lists of approximately 40 medicines, 60 surgical items and 25 laboratory equipment items that can be donated by the public and well-wishers.

Dr. Sanjeewa questioned why such a large number of medicines and medical supplies were being sought through donations and whether this indicated shortcomings in the Government's medicine and medical equipment supply system.

He said the hospital's official website makes information about required medicines and equipment publicly available and questioned whether the information reflected the actual situation at the hospital.

He also raised concerns about the Government's procurement and administrative procedures, arguing that there should be proper coordination between medicines supplied by the Government and medicines received through donations.

According to Dr. Sanjeewa, a situation in which hospitals receive medicines through donations while the Government is separately supplying the same medicines could potentially result in excess stocks and wastage.

He questioned whether the information published on official hospital websites was accurate. He said that if the information was incorrect, officials responsible for maintaining and publishing the information should be held accountable. However, if the information was accurate, he argued that the Health Ministry should acknowledge that there were serious problems within the country's medicine and medical equipment supply network.

He also questioned why such extensive lists of medicines, surgical equipment and laboratory equipment were being made available to donors if the Government was adequately meeting the needs of the hospital.

Dr. Sanjeewa said the Health Ministry should analyse such information and address shortages in the healthcare supply system rather than focus primarily on investigating officials responsible for publishing the information.

He called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take action to address what he described as longstanding administrative problems within the health sector, including issues involving the Ministry of Health, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority and state institutions.

He further alleged that some officials had maintained links with former administrators and politicians accused of corruption, and claimed that the problems within the health sector were being repeatedly confirmed.

Dr. Sanjeewa also criticised the quality and clarity of information provided by health authorities to the media, saying that statements made by the Minister and Deputy Minister should be examined carefully and that publicly released information should be clear, accurate and transparent.

The remarks were made at a media briefing organised by the Doctors’ Professional Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights. The allegations concerning medicine shortages, procurement and administrative practices were made by Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa and have not been presented as independently verified findings.