The Ministry of Health has instructed all government hospital clinics to issue two months' worth of medication to patients in a single visit. Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, said that this directive aims to reduce the frequency of travel for patients who usually collect their prescriptions on a monthly basis.
The decision was reached during a high-level meeting chaired by the Minister of Health to discuss fuel management strategies in light of the ongoing Middle East conflict. Dr. Wijemuni noted that by providing a double supply of essential medicine, the government hopes to ease the burden on citizens facing transport difficulties while ensuring that their healthcare needs remain uninterrupted. The new system is set to be implemented starting this week.
According to the Deputy Minister, hospitals that currently maintain sufficient stocks of medicine can begin issuing the two-month supplies immediately. For facilities facing shortages, the Ministry of Health has already initiated emergency measures to distribute the necessary stocks swiftly to ensure uniform implementation across the island. He reassured the public that despite the logistical challenges posed by the international fuel situation, the Ministry is taking every possible step to keep the medical supply chain stable.
