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Streamline pharmaceutical supplies leaving middlemen out: President

21 May 2020 07:34 pm - 15     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said the production and supply of the pharmaceutical items should be streamlined for the benefit of the people disregarding the interests of handful of intermediaries. President Rajapaksa said this while reviewing the production, import and distribution of pharmaceutical supplies during a discussion with the Chairmen of the two State Pharmaceutical Corporations held at the Presidential Secretariat today. The President said formulating a simple import and supply mechanism of medicines is a priority. All the medicines should be of highest standards said the President while warning relevant officials not to give any chance to produce or import substandard medicines. While stressing the need for maintaining buffer stocks to prevent any scarcity to occur, the President pointed out that orders should be placed by calculating the date of expiry of medicines. Chairman of State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation Dr. Uthpala Indrawansha said that his organization produces 80 medicines required by hospitals in the country. "Plans are underway to domestically produce Saline and several other items. This will save the country around Rs. 1,300 million annually," Dr. Indrawansha said. The possibility of investing money belonging to the Employees Trust Fund and the Samurdhi Movement in the production of medicine was also explored, the President's Media Division said. "If such a mechanism could be put in place, these two Funds will have a permanent source of income," President said. Replying to a query by the President as to how the medicines supply in the country is structured, Chairman of State Pharmaceutical Corporation Consultant neurosurgeon Prasanna Gunasena said the supply is done in three ways. They are production by the State sector, production by the private sector and imports by both sectors. Currently there are 750 varieties of medicines in use in the country and sometimes a scarcity could occur due to delays in procurement process in respect of imports, the Chairman said. Directing that no room should be left for shortages in the supply of medicines in the country, the President pointed out the necessity of deciding the medicinal requirement of the coming year by studying the demand pattern of the previous year. Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe and representatives of the Treasury were also present during the discussion.

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  Comments - 15

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  • Nanda Thursday, 21 May 2020 10:28 PM

    Staple food rice is short supply in the market , during the meeting with Prez, a colonel represented the army gave big talk but situation is now worse,

    Sam Friday, 22 May 2020 10:11 AM

    Army has done enough they can’t do everything without support of Govt

    Vilvan Thursday, 21 May 2020 10:49 PM

    We should not call them as just Pharmaceutical Products, actually only these entities stop or cure the diseases. We should call them the Most Vital Things in Medicine. What doctors do is just prescribe them according to the companies instructions.

    neil Friday, 22 May 2020 06:55 AM

    Why it had come to the level that Pez has to educate the proper methodology for drug import, storege and distribution. It would have been done decades ago! Typical Sri Lanla.

    Bhatiya Siriwardena Friday, 22 May 2020 08:18 AM

    Allow local pharmaceutical companies to do local production as much as possible. SPMC can do some but not a lot as state sector can not do commercial operations. Please do not touch EPF ETF for these operations.

    Patient Friday, 22 May 2020 09:02 AM

    President has not thought of ways to bring down drug prices ?

    Patient Friday, 22 May 2020 09:02 AM

    President has not thought of ways to bring down drug prices ?

    Andrew Silva Friday, 22 May 2020 09:08 AM

    An independent drug testing authority should be established to see that Sri Lankans gets high quality drugs as drugs are imported by the private sector, the state sector and also produced by the state. The standard of these drugs should be verified before it reaches the public.

    Gratiaen Hewa Friday, 22 May 2020 09:11 AM

    Red Kekulu rice is not available in our CWE outlets Homagama quite for sometime.Hope this will be remedied without delay by the authorities.

    Ups Saturday, 23 May 2020 03:16 PM

    Up to Bandula,prior to plan to spend 40 million US dollars on a cricket ground,see whether people of your area have rice to eat,which is their stale food

    Roshanaly Friday, 22 May 2020 10:09 AM

    God save ETF funds.

    J A N PEIRIS Friday, 22 May 2020 10:41 AM

    PRESIDENT GOTABAYA WELL DONE BUT MAK3 SURE CULPRITS FOLLOWING YOUR ORDERS BECAUSE DOCTORS MIDDLE HENCHMAN IMPORTERS CHAIN LINKED TO SUPPLY CHEAPEST SOME TIMES EXPIRED MEDICINES REMARKED CLEVERLY TO FOOL PEOPLE'S CULPRITS MAKING HUGE TRILLIONS WHILE POOREST UNDER GOING VERY BAD DISEASES MEDICINE MAFIA'S VERY DANGEROUS LETS STAY ALERT

    Kamal Friday, 22 May 2020 11:06 AM

    Eliminate 3rd parties in all aspects, the prices will be affordable by the citizens

    VJ Friday, 22 May 2020 12:12 PM

    It is common knowledge many doctors are prescribing additional medication in exchange for rewards from the pharmaceutical companies. These unwanted medications could create more health problems to the patient.

    Hamid Saturday, 23 May 2020 01:14 PM

    Prez's intention is good,but medical mafia is more powerful than rice mafia,who already ignored, prez's directions,


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