Crisis situation over availability of life-saving drugs
Sri Lanka is facing a severe shortage of essential medicines due to the dollar shortage in the country. The situation has also got aggravated due to unrealistic price regulations that have hindered drug imports, said Sanjiva Wijesekera, President of the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI), at a media briefing held in Colombo on Wednesday.
He said the SLCPI has raised its deep concern over the current shortage in essential medicines including life- saving drugs. The pharmaceutical industry has also been affected by global issues such as logistical challenges, cost escalation of raw materials and inflation where
Sri Lanka is not an exception to these challenges.
They are unable to sustain supplies of essential medicines due to unrealistic price regulations set by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) since all essential drugs are under price control since 2016 without formulating a pricing mechanism.
A sustainable pricing mechanism will help adjust for key input cost changes such as the exchange rate, fuel costs, interest and inflation. The NMRA has been requested by court to establish a price mechanism that is both favourable to the industry and the patient. But this has had not happened as yet, according SLCPI. “The well-being of our patients is our priority. During the pandemic we ensued continuous supply under difficult circumstances. We are prepared to work with the government and engage with relevant stakeholders to secure Sri Lanka’s immediate requirements for medicines and prevent medicine shortages,” he added.
He said banks find it difficult to honour the letter of credit (LC)’s to import drugs as there is insufficient dollars. This has resulted in shipments being delayed.
SLCPI Past President Adrian Basnayake said that there is a shortage of pharmaceutical drugs at the moment although drugs available at the moment can last for 2-3 weeks.
A sustainable pricing mechanism will help adjust for key input cost changes such as the exchange rate, fuel costs, interest and inflation.