Prices continue to rise in Sri Lanka as the country plunges into chaos, medicine prices were increased by 40%. The country continues to struggle to keep up with its ongoing economic crisis.
Antibiotics, some painkillers, and heart medication are among the items that have been marked up by 40%.
Sri Lankans have resorted to taking short courses of medicine or seeking supplies from outside the country.
The government claims that it has no choice but to raise the price of pharmaceuticals.
It comes as part of a package of steps designed to help reduce the loss of foreign exchange reserves in the midst of a devastating financial crisis.
Import restrictions or bans on some critical products, such as meals and medications, were among the measures.
“This is not something that the government is doing willingly,” Nalaka Godahewa, Sri Lanka’s minister for mass media said.
He said that the government had no choice because of the rupee’s depreciation and the fact that most medicine is imported by the private sector, else there would be a severe shortage.
Health care providers are concerned that a lack of medicine is causing patients to buy less than the required amount.
“The situation is bad. Sometimes antibiotics are prescribed for five days. Now my customers are saying give me the antibiotics only for two or three days. How will it work?” Ruchira Hewawasam, who runs a pharmacy in Colombo, said.
Some fear that even for those willing and able to pay higher prices, some medication is in short supply.
“The crisis we are facing in the pharmaceutical sector is unprecedented. The sharp increase in medicine prices will take its toll,” Azam Jaward, Vice President of Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry said.