Sri Lanka, June 18 -- Sri Lanka is grappling with a shortage of several medicines, including cancer drugs, insulin, and oral rehydration salts like Jeevani affecting both government hospitals and pharmacies.

A wide range of crucial drugs including those used to treat cancer, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, and infections are either unavailable or in dangerously limited supply, according to health professionals and patients.

Among the medications currently in short supply are:

* Insulin 10ml - Unavailable for over four months

* Filgrastim injection - Priced around Rs. 8,000

* Cisplatin injection - Priced around Rs. 5,000

* Diltiazem 30mg/60mg

* Phenobarbitone 30mg

* Chlorpromazine 50mg

* Imipramine 25mg

* Atropine eye ...