LRH updates list of evolving needs, warns donors of middlemen
AVital medicines and vitamin tablets such as Vitamin K are in short supply. There is a monthly requirement of 5,000 tablets, but there are only 100 available. Children with nutrition deficiencies, are affected by this.
n appeal to donors for help to provide assistance to purchase medicines for the Lady R i d g eway H o s p i t a l in Colombo has drawn many responses, but they have called to focus more on the essential items.
Deputy Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Dr Santhusitha Senapathi said that they need more vital items such as specific medicines for heart ailments, surgical sutures and vitamin tablets.
“Surgical supplies, such as operation suture materials, needles are expensive, these cannot be re- used, the sutures used on small children need to be small or else there could be complications in treatment. The needles used should be approved by the National Medicines Regulatory authority.” He explained, as there are a limited number of suppliers, they have increased the prices of items using the prevailing situation as an excuse; yet if price controls are placed on the items, their availability would reduce as suppliers hide them. Therefore, donors should get the needles through suppliers or through the medical supplies division at the Health Ministry.
Dr Senapathi said that they were updating a list on the hospital website so that donors could provide the items which are needed the most. Dr Senapathi said that even though a good response was given by donors, often, the same items are given to the hospital.
Doctors and pharmacists hold meetings every three days to revise the necessities at the hospital depending on which items were running low.
The Deputy Director elaborated that even though people were donating medicines, some varieties were yet not available at the agents who distribute medicines.
He explained that vital medicines and vitamin tablets such as Vitamin K are in short supply. There is a monthly requirement of 5,000 tablets, but there are only 100 available. He added that children with nutrition deficiencies, as well as persons undergoing surgeries in the intestines, are affected by this as the supply of proteins only lasts for a few days.
“Some are available at outside pharmacies but the price is high. Suppliers too have increased the prices to the maximum using the situation as a scapegoat. It is an unsuited action,” he added.
He went on to say that they do not plan to depend on donors for a longer period, therefore the hospital decided to make the appeal for a six month period extending from April 20 to October 21.
“We hope the needs will be reduced with medicine from the Ministry's medi
cal supplies division and medicine given from other hospitals. However, donors can use the list of requirements updated on the website. The supplier’s information is added for the ease of donors so they can contact them and get required medicine for cheaper prices and supply more medicine,” he added.
He advised donors willing to donate
medicine to only contact the given numbers to coordinate with Dr Savithri, Dr Udari, Ms Kumari or Hansika by calling the hospital general number 0112693711 and dialing extension 307 for more details.
He warned that there were persons who try to become middle men and pose as coordinators and steal money.