Opium shortage hits indigenous medicine trade

Wednesday, 9 April 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Ashwin Hemmathagama Our Lobby Correspondent The shortage of opium in Sri Lanka has led Government-owned indigenous medicine outlets to incur a loss of over Rs. 2.5 million in 2012. According to Deputy Minister of Indigenous Medicine C.P.D. Bandaranaike, most indigenous medicines are based on opium and herbal ingredients subjected to serious control. The Deputy Minister in response to a question for oral answers raised by UNP MP Rosy Senanayake said: “There are times when the supply cannot demand. The reasons that could be adduced the insufficiency of the production capacity scarcities and delays in the provision of raw medicinal supplies. Certain medicinal supplies are obtained locally and they have to be Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation medicinal supplies directly due the existing rules and regulations.” “It is only the Health Supplies Division which could bring down opium; as such, certain types of drugs which are in high demand have not been able to be produced throughout a period of six months. These include suranvidura wati, jeevananda wati, buddharaja kalkaya, and the gajaba wellawengayam,” he added. Currently the indigenous medicine outlets in Anuradhapura, Tangalle, Battaramulla, Folk Art Centre, and Monaragala are facing drug shortages.

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