Priority List for drugs to treat cancer
A ‘ Priority List’ of essential oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer patients has been identified by the Sri Lanka College of Oncologists based at the National Cancer Institute in Maharagama.
The list of drugs has been put forward on the request of the Health Ministry to facilitate purchase through credit lines or donations from well-wishers. It consists of essentials needed in cancer treatment including chemotherapy and hormonal drugs.
“We made this Priority List of cancer drugs in midApril considering the cost effectiveness, the need to treat common cancers in Sri Lanka and those included in the ‘WHO Essential Medicine List’,” states the oncologists. (See graphic)
They have strongly cautioned against the circulation of different lists, other than the one compiled by them when making appeals for donations or sending requests to foreign missions.
“Those lists contain many medicines outside the Priority List and cannot be classified as urgent or essential medicines,” they state, assuring that the college would provide further recommendations on the need of any additional drugs, when the economic situation improves.
“Take urgent and necessary steps to make the drugs on the Priority List available sooner, as per the usual amounts of consumption in the past and ensure the continuation of uninterrupted cancer care services,” the oncologists add.
Essential psychiatric and psychotropic drugs needed
The Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists has also listed out essential drugs and the quantities needed until December 2022.
In a letter to the Health Ministry, the college states that the list is based on the availability of stocks at the MSD.
Nineteen medicines including tablets and injections needed in the treatment of psychiatric (mental) disorders are on the list, while another list of essential psychotropics (which adjust the major chemicals in the brain) include four for rapid tranquillization; seven anti-psychotics; two mood stabilizers; four anti- depressants; three for substance misuse; two needed for child psychiatry issues; and one for old age.