Rs. 4,727 million spent on cancer treatment - Rajitha

A total of Rs. 4,727 million had been spent on the treatment offered to cancer patients since the limit of the expenses for one cancer patient lifted, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

According to Minister Senaratne, in the past the maximum limit for the expenses for one cancer patient was Rs. 1.5 million. After this government came into power, the limit was lifted. Now cancer patients’ treatment does not have a limit. He expressed these views during a meeting held at the Health Ministry recently.

Minister Senaratne said that the government had spent 180 to 200 million rupees for some cancer patients. During the past three years the government offered free treatment for 1,285 cancer patients. Money had been saved by eradicating corruption in connection with drug tenders.

One cancer drug imported to Sri Lanka for Rs. 285,000 in the past is now being imported for Rs. 165,000. Another (second) cancer drug is purchased from Russia for Rs. 141,000. Cancer drugs are very expensive but now cancer patients receive them free of charge without a limit, he added. 

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