CCC advocates for healthcare reforms with Health Ministry

The need for urgent reforms in Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector came under the spotlight with the Ministry of Health with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) advocating the need for changes within the system.
The CCC met with Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella to stress the need to address critical issues within Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector to ensure patient safety, access to quality healthcare, and industry growth. 
In a statement to the media, the CCC said it outlined a comprehensive plan of action to revitalise the national healthcare system. 

“The importance of patient safety, access to quality healthcare, and creating an environment that facilitates effective and efficient industry operations were among the key focus areas discussed. As a direct result of this engagement, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Pricing Committee has committed to accelerate its efforts to establish a new pricing formula for medicinal drugs, addressing long-persisting pricing concerns,” the CCC said.

The Ceylon Chamber raised concerns regarding excessive regulations hindering progress within the healthcare system, causing delays, and creating a fast-growing gray market, which will be detrimental to patient safety. 
Proposed measures aim to streamline administrative processes, implement proper pricing mechanisms, and ensure a fair playing field for all stakeholders. To this, the Minister invited the CCC to lend support to the implementation of a digital system, that would enhance transparency and regulation, and the establishment of accredited laboratories to maintain stringent quality standards. 

Further, emphasising the need for clarity in defining essential and non-essential drugs, the CCC advocated for precise regulations to prevent misinterpretations. Separate regulations for medical devices, distinct from medicines, are also on the agenda to streamline registration processes.

As recurring issues in the local healthcare sector has negatively impacting public safety in terms of access to quality healthcare, the Ceylon Chamber together with industry stakeholders stressed the importance of ensuring that ministry-level decisions effectively translate into tangible improvements at the NMRA level, and pledged to support the government to implement necessary measures.