Drug shortages will worsen with Health allocation

By Kumuduni Bandara

Health Unions warn that drug shortages will worsen and all other health sector facilities will be curtailed this year, since the health budget has been pruned by Rs.5.5 billion.
Last year the budgetary allocation for the health ministry was Rs.58.6 billion and it has been brought down to Rs.53 billion this year, in the 2010 budget presented in parliament last week.
“Only Rs.4 billion has been allocated in the budget for the health sector. But the country needs at least Rs.15 billion annually for the purchase of drugs”, a high ranking ministry official who did not want to be named told LAKBIMAnEWS.
Health Services Trade Union Alliance president urged that at least Rs.70 billion be set apart from the annual budget for the increasing needs in the health sector, as the number of patients were on the increase due to the outbreak of various viral diseases.
“We request the government to at least to provide Rs.70 billion to avoid causing much hardship to the people,”he said.