Doctor Warns of Possible Medicine Shortage Amid Continued Depreciation of Sri Lankan Rupee
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of the Federation of Medical and Civil Rights Doctors’ Trade Unions, has warned that the continued depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee against the US Dollar could lead to a severe shortage of medicines in both the public and private sectors.
He pointed out that the sharp increase in the value of the Dollar has significantly raised the cost of importing medicines, placing importers and the healthcare sector under immense pressure.
According to him, importers are now being forced to spend a much larger amount of Rupees than originally planned in order to release medicine consignments that had been ordered when the Dollar exchange rate was lower.
He further stated that the cost of importing new stocks of medicines into the country has also risen drastically.
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa noted that pharmacies in several parts of the country have already begun experiencing shortages of certain types of medicines.
He warned that if the current situation continues, Sri Lanka could once again face a serious healthcare crisis similar to the severe medicine shortage experienced in 2022.
He also emphasized that the increasing cost of purchasing medicines locally would place an unbearable financial burden on the Treasury.
Therefore, he urged the Treasury to immediately consider providing tax concessions and other relief measures for medicine imports in order to prevent a major healthcare crisis in the future.
