Maximum retail price of medicines up by 29%: Pharmacy Owners’ Assn.

The maximum retail prices of medicines have been increased by 29% and the mainline pharmaceutical  companies and importers have decided to resume their medicine and equipment supplies from today, All-Island Private Pharmacy Owners’ Association (ACPPOA) President Chandika Gankanda said.

He also stated that non-controllic medicine items, such as vitamins, have increased by 29% since yesterday. The prices of 60 medicine varieties mentioned in the gazette are sold at controlled prices. 

The pharmaceutical  companies and importers have no right to increase the prices as per their whims and fancies unless through a special gazette notification.

"The pharmaceutical companies and importers have stopped supplying medicine to pharmacies until the gazette is issued. 40% of the medicines are classified under non-controllable items." non-controlable medicine item suppliers do not need special permission to increase their prices," he said.

As a result, the most popular generic medicine variants, such as Paracetamol, Beclometasone (inhalation capsule), Salbutamol, Omeprazole, Methylprednisolone, Domperidone, Ceftazidime Injection, Regular Insul, Biphasic Isophane Insul, and Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid have been increased by 29%, it is learnt. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)