Drug shortage spurs Jaffna black market

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Delays in supply from Colombo have caused an acute shortage of vitally needed drugs in hospitals in the Jaffna Peninsula, said sources in Jaffna. This has led to these drugs to be sold at exorbitant prices in the black-market.

Ventolin, the commonly used drug for asthma, anti-rabies vaccine and injections and drugs needed to combat heart diseases are among those that have been scarce in Jaffna hospitals during the past two weeks.

Sources said that this was due delay in the supplies for the first quarter of 1998 reaching Jaffna.

Drugs are supplied to the Jaffna District by the Ministry of Health once in four months.