27 June, 2023
Sri Lankas on going socio-economic challenges have led to a critical shortage of essential medicines in the country. In response, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Michelin Foundation have joined forces to support Sri Lanka with medicinal supply needs. The collaboration aims to address the identified drug shortage, as emphasized by the Ministry of Health.
Yesterday morning (26 th June), a significant quantity of medicines was handed over to the Ministry of Health in a ceremony attended by key stakeholders. Present at the event were Keheliya Rambukwella, the Minister of Health, and Dr. Anver Hamdani, the Director of Medical Technical Services and Coordinating In Charge for COVID-19 at the Ministry of Health. Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka, and Mr. Koenraad Pringiers, CEO of Michelin Lanka (formerly Camso Loadstar), represented their respective organizations. The event also witnessed the participation of representatives from partner organizations.
Expressing gratitude for the timely assistance, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella stated, The Ministry of Health is grateful for the support provided in the procurement of life-saving medicines at a crucial time for the people of Sri Lanka, as a part of the Ministry's efforts to address the shortage of medicines through such collaborative efforts.
The scarcity of medicines in the domestic healthcare market has been a persistent issue since 2022, despite efforts to rectify the situation.