Editorial-People getting sick of the Health Ministry

17 December 2013 07:25 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

With more people continuing to fall sick more often due to a little bit of poison in the food we eat and growing pollution of the air and water, the Health Ministry has promised that price control on medicinal drugs will be imposed as New-Year relief for the people.

Health action groups and most people are cynically sick of the promises made by the Health Ministry, especially on the implementation of the National Medicinal Drugs Policy (NMDP) based on Prof. Senaka Bibile’s essential medicines concept. In Parliament last week Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena again promised the NMDP would be implemented from next year. The Minister in one breath said January next year and in another breath said in the early part of next year. He has been saying “soon, soon” for years but that soon has not come and most people are sceptical about whether the soon will come at all or whether it is a bluff like in hundreds or thousands of instances in this era of damn lies, deception and dictatorial trends.

For what it is worth, Health Ministry Secretary Nihal Jayatilleke told the media over the weekend that price control would be implemented from next month because some heartless drug companies were selling drugs at a staggering or shocking profit margin of 800% to 1000%. He said consultations were being held with the Trade Ministry Secretary and the two ministries would jointly and effectively impose the price controls. Well and good, but we hope some trans-national drug corporations would not be allowed to delay, derail or dilute this action as they appear to be doing with legislation to implement the NMDP.

While the delay drags on, rackets and scandals are spreading like an epidemic. Earlier this month the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) accused the Cosmetic Drugs and Devices Regulatory Authority Chairman Hemantha Beneragama of indulging in some jugglery relating to the import of about 50 drugs including life-saving cancer drugs. The GMOA, comprising some 15,000 doctors, charged that Dr. Beneragama had bypassed proper tender procedures and the doctors would take tough trade union action if an independent inquiry was not held. The College of Oncologists has also made similar complaints and rejected the explanation given by Dr. Beneragama.

While price control is welcome, it is more important to introduce comprehensive legislation for the implementation of the NMDP. The Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division Director Kamala Jayasinghe has reportedly told the media that about 1000 varieties of drugs were being imported. But spokesmen of the People’s Movement for the Rights of Patients (PMRP) and other health action groups say the number of drugs registered for import is more than 13,000, but no one really knows how many of them come in because there is chaos in drug imports instead of quality control and post-marketing surveillance.

If the NMDP is implemented, the number of drugs being imported could be reduced to less than 1000 essential or life-saving drugs. The NMDP calls for the appointment of an independent National Medicinal Drugs Regulatory Authority (NMDRA) which will re-register all drugs with the registration being based on five factors - quality, safety, efficacy, the cost of the drug and the need for it. If this is effectively implemented, millions of people will have access to quality drugs at affordable prices and the country could save hundreds of millions of dollars by stopping the import of thousands of non-essential drugs.

With so many benefits for the people and the country, health rights groups are asking why the Government is delaying the implementation of the NMDP and whether it is a social cancer of trans-national pharmaceutical companies being allowed to violate Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and virtually run our health sector in a manner that is turning the noble vocation of medicine into a thundering if not plundering business.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Editorial-People getting sick of the Health Ministry

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

New Visa procedure implemented

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

April 15 declared a government holiday

Suspicious death of 23-year-old woman at hotel sparks concerns

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

Catholic Church receives full report

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win