• The prevailing drug shortage in the country is getting worse by the day, and no action has been taken as yet to import urgent drugs and antibiotics

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

The existing medicines and antibiotics in the country are not sufficient for even  one month, All-Island Private Pharmacy Owners’ Association (AIPPOA) President Chandika Gankanda said.  He told the Daily Mirror that the prevailing drug shortage in the country is getting worse by the day, and no action has been taken as yet to import urgent drugs and antibiotics.

Following a meeting with Health Minister Channa Jayasumana last week, the pharmacy owners’ association requested to annul the price control imposed on non gazetted pharmaceutical 
products and the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) to take the responsibility to import the required drugs and antibiotics.  

However, yesterday, the SLCPI held another discussion with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and the latter said that they could not agree with the request made by the pharmacy owners’ association and the SLCPI.  

The NMRA has approved a maximum 20% price increase for non gazetted medicines beginning from April 25.