Sri Lanka's current medicinal drug shortage has become to a point where State run hospitals could not even carry out caesarean sections, the doctors warn.

According to the doctors, there is a severe shortage of anesthetic drugs in the hospitals, so the surgeries are being postponed.

There is a shortage in many items such as urinary catheters, gloves, GS towels that use to soak up blood etc.

Among the medicinal drugs that has run out in Government Hospitals are those given to cancer patients, those set to undergo urgent surgeries as well as chemicals needed for laboratories.

According to the media, though the Health Ministry has called for tenders for the urgent purchase of vital medicinal drugs, sources revealed that by 31 March only 19 tenders had been opened.