Nov 15, Colombo: Minister of Health and Industry Dr. Ramesh Pathirana has advised the health authorities to blacklist companies that supply substandard drugs.

The Minister has advised that this should apply to all sectors and if such companies are in this country, they should also be blacklisted.

He said that since billions are spent annually on medicines, it is the responsibility of the pharmaceutical companies to provide quality medicines to the people.

The Minister gave these instructions in a special discussion held at the Ministry of Health with the officials of the Medical Supply Division, State Pharmaceutical Corporation, State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation, and National Medicines Regulatory Authority, which are under the Ministry of Health, regarding matters related to the regulation, supply and distribution of medicines.

Dr. Pathirana has also advised that hereafter arrangements should be made through a pricing committee to determine the price of medicines.

The Minister has requested to point out if there is any mistake made by him as the minister and said that he wants to prepare a system by which the government provides high quality medicine to the people of this country.

He also pointed out that more than 500 million dollars are spent annually for purchasing medicines and the best solution to minimize expenses is to produce the needed medicines in the country.

Minister of Health and Industry Dr. Ramesh Pathirana instructed the officials to import medicines needed using the right methods to ensure that there is no shortage of medicines in the country and also to pay special attention to devices such as eye lenses, stents, and syringes etc.

In addition to this, the Minister instructed to expedite the process in consultation with the concerned parties according to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka to carry out this process together With the Director General of Health Services, the Deputy Director General of Medical Supplies, the Chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation and the Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority.

On this occasion, State Minister of Health Dr. Sita Arambepola, Health Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta, Additional Secretary (Procurement) Y.L.M. Navavi, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Chairman of National Medicines Regulatory Authority Specialist Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, Chairman of State Pharmaceutical Corporation Dr. Ajith Mendis, Deputy Director General of Medical Supply Division D.R.K. Herath, Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, the director of the department, and senior officials participated.