Finance Ministry to seek Cabinet nod for allocation to settle arrears for purchase of medicines

The Finance Ministry has decided to submit the proposal for allocating money to settle the arrears to be paid to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) and various suppliers for the purchase of medicines, for special Cabinet approval next week.

The decision has been taken at a meeting held between Health and Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe along with the officials of both Ministries yesterday.

State Minister Shehan Semasinghe stated that according to the decision taken, the Budget department of the Finance Ministry will prepare the proposal to obtain approval for the payment of outstanding bills and submit it next week.

The State Minister also stated that the Government is looking at the possibility of getting the amount to be spent for this purpose under a loan facility from a State Bank. He said that money will be provided without any delay for the purchase of medicine, payment of outstanding bills, and essential health expenses.

Although earlier payments were made so that only three months of bills were left in hand, it has now been reduced to two months. The Finance Minister also mentioned that from next year onwards, steps will be taken to reduce the time period to one month.

Budget Department Director General Jude Nilukshan, Treasury Operations Department Director General Dulip De Silva and State Enterprise Department Director General Athula Kumara were present.

The post Finance Ministry to seek Cabinet nod for allocation to settle arrears for purchase of medicines appeared first on DailyNews.