Several politicians linked to company which supplied Papaverine injection at higher prices: Nalinda

Colombo, January 21 (Daily Mirror)- Claiming that several polticians are linked to the comapny which had supplied Papaverine injection at an exorbinat price from 2019 to 2023, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today that an investigation will be conducted into the incident.

He told the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that the investigation will find out how approval was given to this compnay to purchase the drug at such higher prices.

The Minister said the government has spent Rs. 342.49 million to import the drug from 2019 to 2023.

He said the government had purchased this drug at various prices from Rs. 58,000, 62,000, 64,000 and 76,000 and added that the new price has been offered by the same company after regulatory changes introduced by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) when renewing the registration.

"The NMRA’s Pricing Committee now reviews regional prices before renewing drug registrations. There was no pricing formula earlier and the government had purchased the medicines at the price determined by the companies," said.