A Health Ministry tender board has approved the purchase of 42 varieties of medicines from three suppliers at very high prices for use at Apeksha Cancer Hospital in Maharagama, according to ministry sources.
In the name of emergency purchases, a medicine bought for Rs. 3,000 last year is to be purchased at Rs. 30,000 and another priced at Rs. 7,000 a year ago at Rs. 39,000, said the sources.
The Bureau of Foreign Employment has provided Rs. 500 million needed to make these purchases.
However, the health secretary has called for a fresh review of the prices.
Meanwhile, a sum of USD 500,000 donated by Sri Lanka Cricket to buy medicines for cancer patients are to be used similarly to make purchases at very high prices.
