Drug shortage at Pulmoddai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 October 1999, 10:31 GMT]
There is a severe drug shortage at the government hospital in Pulmoddai, 45 km. north of Trincomalee, as the security forces have ordered the health authorities not to stock drugs in the hospital said sources.

Residents complain that the hospital authorities are wilfully ignoring their request to order more drugs and added that the hospital is without even basic drugs like paracetamol.

The security forces allege that the Liberation Tigers in the Pulmoddai area get their medical requirements from this hospital.

Two Sinhala medical officers attached to the hospital prescribe drugs to patients to buy from pharmacies in the village. But pharmacies in Pulmoddai do not have enough stock drugs due to the restriction imposed by the law enforcement authorities, the sources said.

As a result, people of the area are forced to travel to Kebettigollawa, about 50 km. off Pulmoddai, to buy medicines prescribed by doctors, residents say.

Over 18 thousand people live in the traditional Muslim village, Pulmoddai.

Earlier, a Muslim doctor was working in the hospital. After he was transferred out, two Sinhala doctors have been posted to this hospital.

Thereafter, no orders have been placed with the higher authorities to get enough drugs to this hospital, allege leading residents of the village.