Crucial to import at least essentials of the essential drugs

Without just highlighting the problems, Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa talks of what doctors can do and also ought to do in this current crisis.

“Let’s get- together, pharmacological experts, other doctors and pharmacists and send a fine-comb through the list of drugs which have been imported into the country. In these crisis times, we could see whether we could prune the list down to a few drugs in one variety,” he says.

He points out that there are 52 essential drugs. Leaving aside personal gain and differences, a strong group should see, for example, whether without getting many drugs we can get about three for diabetes. This would help us to meet the vision of Prof. Senaka Bibile about availability, accessibility and affordability.

Another is amoxicillin – do we need over 100 brands? Can we manage with 2- 5 brands, he asks.

“It would be getting essentials of the essential drugs,” he says, adding that then “we too as doctors have been proactive in getting vital medicines to the hands of the people.”