The government has initiated to settle the long outstanding debts from bonds which the sector has benefitted to the extent of Rs 28 bn and the government is working out some other mechanisms and trying to bring some tools to ease the financial burden of members of the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the 62nd SLCPI AGM held in Colombo on Friday.
He said outstanding dues to SLCPI member companies have been a long-standing concern and the government has the highest priority on the health sector and is doing the best it can even in extremely difficult circumstances to solve the problem.
“With the current devaluation of the dollar, we decided to reduce the price of medication, this is a temporary solution until a more acceptable and long-term solution is given.”
A new pricing committee has been appointed to work out a more permanent solution to this issue and certain positive changes have also taken place in the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). The minister also emphasized NMRAs key role as a regulator and its responsibility towards the citizens of the country.
Rambukwella said India has not only been the largest supplier of pharmaceuticals to the country but also through the Indian credit line eased the country’s financial burdens greatly during the crisis period.
The minister thanked Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka and the chambers for the assistance and hoped that the relationship between the two countries which are centuries old will continue for centuries more.