COLOMBO, Oct. 22 -- Sri Lanka has placed medicine orders worth Rs 90 billion through the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) so far this year, with an additional Rs 20 billion to be allocated in the coming weeks - a sharp 230% increase compared to 2024, Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament.

"In 2024, only Rs 48 billion was spent on medicines imported through the SPC," the minister said, noting, "This year, we initially expected expenditure to reach Rs 60 billion. However, it has already risen to Rs 90 billion, and we plan to add another Rs 20 billion within the next one and a half months."

Dr Jayatissa said the Ministry of Health will spend a total of Rs183 billion this year on medical supplies procured through variou...