A growing shortage of essential medicines for children in Sri Lanka has raised alarm among medical professionals, who say lives are being placed in danger due to the lack of a continuous supply of key drugs in several state hospitals. The warning was issued by the Alliance of Doctors for Medical and Civil Rights, which described the situation as an urgent public health concern affecting some of the country’s most vulnerable patients.
The crisis has notably impacted treatment at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital and other medical facilities that run specialized clinics for young children. According to the Alliance, several categories of medicines required for conditions such as epilepsy, seizures, and certain kidney disorders are not being supplied consistently, disrupting carefully managed treatment schedules.
The organization’s Chairman, Chamal Sanjeewa, stated that the shortages stem from failures in procurement and distribution systems, leaving hospitals unable to maintain steady stocks of critical pediatric medications. Physicians warn that interruptions to these treatments can lead to worsening illness, increased complications, and preventable medical emergencies among children who rely on uninterrupted dosing.
The Alliance has urged the Ministry of Health and the government to intervene immediately, noting that the current situation is forcing authorities to spend large sums purchasing medicines from external pharmacies rather than ensuring stable institutional supply chains. This reliance on outside vendors has also shifted a heavy financial burden onto families.
Parents, described by doctors as increasingly helpless, are reportedly spending at least Rs. 30,000 for a one-month supply of certain seizure medications purchased privately when hospital stocks run out. Medical professionals warn that unless swift corrective action is taken to stabilize procurement and distribution, the shortages could deepen inequalities in access to treatment and further endanger children dependent on life-sustaining drugs.
