Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa has called on the Government to import Tocilizumab to treat Covid patients in Sri Lanka.
Addressing Parliament today, MP Premadasa said he was ridiculed when he had raised concerns over the shortage of the medicine during an earlier session of Parliament.
He said the shortage of the medicine is now resulting in deaths of Covid patients in Sri Lanka.
Several people had raised concerns on social media, pointing out the unavailability of the medicine.
However, some have reported that the medicine is available in certain places and is being sold at a cost of between Rs. 400,000 – Rs. 500,000.
Responding to MP Premadasa, State Minister Professor Channa Jayasumana said the medicine is available in the country and currently more stocks have been ordered.
Stating that there is a worldwide high demand for the medicine at present, he said that it is being administered only to some Covid patients in serious condition.
Accordingly, only 1 in 100 critical patients will be prescribed the medicine if recommended by a specialist, the State Minister revealed.
Minisiter said that Tocilizumab is a costly medicine but despite that Government has purchased it at a cost of over Rs 100,000 each
He said as it is not a medicine that is administered to all patients, it is wrong to claim there is a shortage in the country.
Pointing out that the Government has taken measures to import more of the medicine, Professor Jayasumana reiterated that it can only be consumed by seriously ill Covid patients with certain medical conditions. “Not every critical patient can’t be given that medicine because some can even die because of taking it” Minister added.(NewsWire)