Action on securing medications

Referring to the COVID-19 impact on medicines in Sri Lanka, National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Chairperson Prof. Asita de Silva said that although there is “absolutely no requirement to panic at present”, it would be prudent to be prepared.

“In our opinion, government-to-government communication with India would be a good starting point. Considering the very special relationship we have with India, the NMRA is optimistic Sri Lanka would receive special preference,” he said.

Prof. de Silva explains the situation with clinical precision:

Approximately, 70% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) required for producing medicines are manufactured in China.

In addition, more than 80% of APIs required for producing antibiotics are manufactured in China.

Due to the ongoing emergency situation in China caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, manufacturing of APIs and other raw material for producing medicines may be negatively impacted in China.

The Government of India has already placed restrictions on the export of 26 active APIs and medicines manufactured from them. These include several important antibiotics.

Since the great majority of medicines available in Sri Lanka is manufactured in India, this amended export policy implemented by the Government of India could have a negative impact on our country.

The NMRA has had many rounds of

discussions with officials of the Sri

Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) regarding this issue. We have been assured of the availability of adequate stocks of medicines in the country.

The NMRA has brought this evolving situation to the attention of the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and agencies involved with procurement.

News reports from India indicated that the country has grossly limited its export of generic drugs like paracetamol, antibiotics such as tinidazole and erythromycin, the hormone progesterone and Vitamins B12, B1 and B6. This is due to the raw materials and ingredients used in these drugs coming from China (almost 70%), with India’s drug makers being warned that if the epidemic continues, a shortage of drugs could occur.

More than 50% of India’s drugs are made for export and many drugs produced in India cannot be sold on the domestic market.

In Sri Lanka, medicine consumption is grouped into two – the state and private sectors.

Assuring that currently there is no issue, the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) Chairperson, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, said that the country has stocks and the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) is continuing to produce drugs. Some of the drugs that India has banned for export are already being manufactured in Sri Lanka by the SPMC.

“The plan, in case, there is a global long-term escalation of COVID-19 is to stock 30 very basic but essential drugs. These will be life- saving drugs and not medications needed for sophisticated treatment modalities. We have begun arrangements to secure these essential stocks from around the world and regions not affected by COVID-19,” he said, urging medical practitioners to use all drugs rationally and only as and when needed.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) President, Kasturi Wilson told the Sunday Times that to cater to the private market, all importers have 2-3 months of stocks. Thereafter, there could be issues in the medium-term with regard to future imports, if COVID-19 is not brought under control.

“We hope there would be government-to-government negotiations with the relevant countries with regard to the import of essential drugs,” she added.