The Medicines for Sri Lanka campaign, run by the Federation of Sri Lankan Organisations in Queensland, has resulted in four consignments of much-needed medication to Sri Lankan hospitals, thanks to the generosity of the Brisbane community.
Since the campaign began early this year, Phase 1 raised more than AUD $34,000 for a range of cancer drugs and heart and kidney medicines. The FSOQ, in association with three Brisbane doctors working with the Doctors Association of Sri Lanka (DASL), identified approved suppliers for a list of urgently needed medicines and other supplies.
Medicines cannot be sent to Sri Lanka without the approval of the Sri Lanka National Medicines Regulatory Authority.
The Brisbane doctors, Kanchanamala Ranasinghe, Akila Samarakkody and Sisira Gunaratne, have been working with an FSOQ sub-committee comprising Dr Jay Weerawardena, Jayantha Weerasekera, Lal Mendis, Sidath Wijetungha and Uditha Manage.
Since the first consignment in May, a total of AUD $34,283.42 has been spent in Phase 1 of the project.
Dr Ranasinghe said the FSOQ had to engage Indian suppliers when local suppliers were unable to supply the drugs.
Fundraising is under way for Phase 2 of the project.
The following is the breakdown of the purchases:
AUD $6665.32 paid to Venus Remedies, Ltd, India, for the supply of 500 vials of Paclitaxel 30mg/5ml (PAXOL). Medication used as therapy for a multitude of cancers.
AUD $3326.28 paid to SLIM Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka, for the supply of 400 Enoxaparin Sodium 60mg/0.6ml. Medication used to prevent blood clots and to treat some types of heart attacks and heart disease.
US $10,200 paid to ABS Pharma Services (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka, for the supply of Tenectaplace 40mg vials. Medication used to dissolve clots that form in certain blood vessels.
AUD $9554.56 paid to SLIM Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka, for the supply of 850 vials of Erythropoietin 4000IU. Medication to treat patients with kidney failure.
