Drug shortage hits Vanni hospital

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2000, 15:47 GMT]
Hospitals in the Vanni region are experiencing shortage of drugs and other medical equipment as they are yet to receive the entire supply approved by the Defence Ministry, for the first quarter of this year, government officers and medical sources said. They said the remaining supplies for the hospitals are lying in Vavuniya, awaiting approval from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities.

Hospitals in the Vanni have not received any supply for the second quarter of the year, they added.

The Additional Commissioner of Provincial Health Service, Dr.K.Ilango has said that arrangements are being made to transport the remaining supply for the first quarter on Thursday.

Tamil parliamentarians have earlier complained that SLA authorities deny permission for the transport of the goods despite approval by the Ministry of Defence.

Meanwhile, the Voice of Tigers radio said on Tuesday, that a nine-year old child, Maruthappu Sinthuja, died of pneumonia at Mallavi hospital on 25 June. The radio further stated that on 23 June, a two-year old child, Sasikala from Visuvamadhu died of septicemia at Puthukudiyiruppu hospital.

The radio quoted the District Medical officer, Dr.Sivamohan, as saying that both the children had died as the hospitals were unable to treat them due to the shortage of drugs.

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