Delays in licence renewals threaten supply of essential medicines

By Sheain Fernandopulle

Hundreds of import licence renewals are currently pending at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), creating serious disruptions to the pharmaceutical supply chain, the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) said.   The industry body said the delays were preventing pharmaceutical companies from placing orders with international suppliers on time, raising concerns over the availability of essential medicines in the coming months.  

SLCPI President Shantha Bandara said the situation had become critical due to the long lead times involved in the global pharmaceutical supply chain.   He noted that the industry typically requires between 90 and 120 days to replenish medicine stocks, and the current administrative backlog was effectively slowing down the process.  

“If the authority continues to allow hundreds of licence renewals to remain pending, we will be unable to place orders in a timely manner, which means we might run out of stocks for chronic care items, acute pain relief medication and other essential treatments,” he said. >>A2 

The SLCPI further claimed that the backlog was linked to a new regulatory approach adopted by the NMRA, under which price reviews have been integrated into the annual licence renewal process.  

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said we have renewed licences of those companies that have agreed to import drugs at the designated price.   

Speaking of the shortage,  he said there was no room for an acute shortage of drugs in the country.   

He said the NMRA remained open for discussions with pharmaceutical importers and noted that medicine prices had been set in line with existing dollar exchange rates.