Video: Cabinet approval for National Medicinal Drugs Policy

5 February 2015 10:25 am - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Cabinet on Thursday unanimously approved the long-awaited National Medicinal Drugs Policy (NMDP) or the amended Senaka Bibile Drugs Policy to be presented in parliament to regulate and reduce the prices of drugs in the country.

The Cabinet proposal was submitted by Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Rajitha Senaratne.

The National Medicinal Drugs Policy will be presented at the next parliamentary session after the Tobacco Bill is presented.

“Once the Drugs Policy is enacted, all the medicines will have to be imported and prescribed under their generic names and not under their trade names,” the minister told the Cabinet news briefing.

He said drug prices will be drastically reduced once the policy was enacted with the prices of some medicines being reduced to one-third their price and some medicines to 25 per cent of their previous price.

"At the initial stage doctors will be allowed to include the trade name of medicines within brackets followed by the generic name if they wish to and have faith in the brand. Gradually we will implement measures to import and prescribe only under the generic name," the minister said.

He said the policy was a complicated and therefore needed to be implemented carefully after drafting it properly. (Lahiru Pothmulla and Sanath Desmond)

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Comments - 17

Subha Thursday, 05 February 2015 10:23 PM

Prof. Senaka Bibile !!! google him..

my3 Saturday, 07 February 2015 08:07 AM

there should be controlled price for medical check ups too. As poor folks has to pay a huge fee to doctor consulting and has to buy quarter of the prescribed medicines which will not cure as the dosage of the intended medication is missing. via DM Android App

yes Friday, 06 February 2015 05:10 PM

its realy a consolation to public well done.

vas Friday, 06 February 2015 05:02 PM

are your one of the corrupted doctor who worried about the mention benefieds ?????

indika Friday, 06 February 2015 01:58 PM

You should add some more in to it and get doctor channeling fees and hospital charges down. You cannot go to a doctor with out having atleat Rs.4000 to start with for a miner illness

pas Friday, 06 February 2015 10:59 AM

What about pharmacist? Now they will promote certain brands after being approached by reps. Thy will get foreign tours instead of the doctorsdoctors.he he

pas Friday, 06 February 2015 10:59 AM

What about pharmacist? Now they will promote certain brands after being approached by reps. Thy will get foreign tours instead of the doctorsdoctors.he he

Andrew D Friday, 06 February 2015 10:34 AM

One of the greatest news...

Henry Friday, 06 February 2015 07:42 AM

Hats off for both Prof. Senaka Bibile for his hard work and all the Cabinet Ministers who voted for.

Chryshan Thursday, 05 February 2015 04:00 PM

WOW. That sound good. Does this mean that govt hospitals will not give prescriptions to patients to buy drugs from outside and that they will issue all medicines free. The way the things are happening these days, it seams like god is looking at Sri Lankans.

CS Thursday, 05 February 2015 09:16 PM

Excellent move. Mandating the generic drug name and giving the option for doctors to give a recommended brand name in brackets is a good trade off - win win. Consumers have the necessary information to make an informed buying decision.

Jayakanth Thursday, 05 February 2015 08:51 PM

so what you are trying to say is the chemist is the person who is going to decide the brand which can be a junk from India, Where the chemist gets more profit. In foreign countries when the drug is prescribed in generics the patient gets the original brand or the FDA approved generic brand. In Srilanka????

BUSHEL Thursday, 05 February 2015 07:27 PM

Doctor writes the generic name as ruled and pharmacy gives the brand that pharmacy prefers with the high margin. very few patients may know to contest the matter with the pharmacy. If the doctor writes the low cost drug that is all about the control

Nimal Thursday, 05 February 2015 06:03 PM

This is a very good move to stop professional muffia in Sri Lanka. it should be noted that many professionals who have studied using public funds (free education) will definitely be against since they may use many lucrative things such as foreign trips etc.

Senator Thursday, 05 February 2015 05:51 PM

Nothing is for free,but a small fee for services in public hospitals will be charged which will include some types of drugs only.

willowsd Thursday, 05 February 2015 05:16 PM

Thank you very much Sir

Chryshan Thursday, 05 February 2015 04:00 PM

WOW. That sound good. Does this mean that govt hospitals will not give prescriptions to patients to buy drugs from outside and that they will issue all medicines free. The way the things are happening these days, it seams like god is looking at Sri Lankans.

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Video: Cabinet approval for National Medicinal Drugs Policy

Comments - 17

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