Price reduction on medicines Keheliya wants committee to prepare a list of drugs: GMOA

• GMOA had introduced a mechanism to reduce the prices

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella had instructed the Ministry to appoint a committee to prepare a list of drugs to consider a price reduction, GMOA Spokesman Dr.  Chamil Wijesinghe said today.  

 He told Daily Mirror that the Minister had given these instructions during a discussion held with the GMOA.  

Earlier, the Government allowed an increase in the price of medicines by 80 to 100 per cent on two occasions, following the Health Ministry’s advice.   

“There are about 1,300 brands of medicines used in the country, but only 100 medicines come under price control. The prices of the remaining medicines have gone up by 600%, which is not affordable,” he said.  

Dr. Wijesinghe said the GMOA had introduced a mechanism to reduce the prices.   

“This was conveyed to the President during a discussion held in September. Following the advice of specialists, the GMOA requested that the Health Ministry identify the drugs that are most commonly used in the country for a downward revision of prices,” he said. 

• Government allowed an increase in the price of medicines by 80 to 100  per cent on two occasions, following the Health Ministry’s advice