Economic Crisis: Sri Lankan doctors protest against drug shortages

Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis for the first time since independence. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan doctors are protesting against a severe shortage of medicines due to the crisis.

Dissatisfaction

The Sri Lankan Government is facing a severe economic crisis. The price of petrol, diesel and gas cylinders is at an all-time high. As a result, food prices have skyrocketed. People are suffering due to rising prices of essential commodities including rice, bread and milk.

Moreover, Sri Lankans are being forced to stand in long queues to buy groceries. In addition, the public is dissatisfied with the Government for causing 13-hour power cuts every day.

Drug shortages

Sri Lanka has been forced to buy essential commodities from abroad due to lack of foreign exchange reserves. In addition, the country's medical association says that the shortage of pharmaceutical products in the country has led to the death of patients being treated in hospitals.

Speaking on the occasion, the doctors warned that "normal treatments have already been discontinued. In this case, only people who are fighting for their lives are being treated in the hospital."

Letter

Furthermore, the Sri Lanka Medical Association has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urging him to expedite the shortage of medical supplies in Sri Lanka. As doctors fight against the Government in various parts of the country, patients and the elderly there are being severely affected.

In the meantime, India is sending fuel and essential commodities to Sri Lanka.