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Govt. spends Rs. 130 b annually on pharmaceutical imports

14 Sep 2020

  • Programme to locally manufacture 50% of requirement
  • Process would reduce import cost to Rs. 60 b annually 
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Sri Lanka at present produces approximately 150 out of around 1,100 types of pharmaceuticals imported to the country, according to the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) of the Ministry of Health. As learnt by The Morning, the local manufacturing process had been launched in 2015 and as of now, the country produces around 150 types of pharmaceuticals locally. When contacted, MSD Director Dr. H.M.K. Wickramanayake said that around Rs. 130 billion is being spent annually to import the necessary pharmaceutical products to the country and once the local manufacturing starts, the cost would be reduced by around Rs. 60 billion. Accordingly, the Government plans to produce 50% of the country’s requirement of pharmaceuticals locally within the next three years. For locally manufacturing, the ingredients would have to be imported, he said, adding that the MSD together with the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) is currently working to reach the Government’s target. The objective is to provide high-quality medicine to the public and the foreign market as well at affordable prices. All products are made in accordance with the recommendations and standards of the World Health Organisation (WHO). At a meeting held to discuss the future plans of the State Ministry of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply, and Regulation recently, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stressed the importance of achieving the Government’s target of reaching 50% of local manufacturing within three years. The President has also stressed that it is high time to turn the tables and added that large-scale local investors are willing to contribute to this effort. Sri Lanka is currently the largest importer of drugs in the Asian region.


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