The government is expected to save approximately Rs. 5.7 billion through the price regulation of 13 types of medicines ordered for import into Sri Lanka in 2027, according to National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Chairman, Consultant Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama.

Speaking at a media briefing held at the NMRA on Thursday (01), Dr. Wijewickrama stated that the estimated savings were achieved through the coordinated efforts of the NMRA, the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) and the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), under the national medicine price regulation policy.

He explained that increased registration of medicines by the NMRA, timely placement of orders by the MSD, efficient tender procedures carried out by the SPC and improved coordination among the three institutions had contributed to the anticipated savings.

The NMRA Chairman further revealed that the prices of 60 types of medicines have been regulated so far, enabling consumers to access quality medicines at more affordable prices.

Providing background on the initiative, Dr. Wijewickrama noted that maximum retail prices were first introduced for 48 essential medicines in 2016, followed by another 12 medicines in 2017.

He stated that the current price regulation mechanism operates under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act, No. 5 of 2015, drawing on the principles of Professor Senaka Bibile’s 1971 Bibile–Wickramasinghe Report and the Essential Medicines List.

According to Dr. Wijewickrama, the regulations have helped significantly reduce the prices of certain excessively priced medicine brands while preventing medicine prices from being determined solely by market forces.

He emphasised that government intervention in medicine pricing remains essential, arguing that market competition alone cannot guarantee affordable medicines, particularly as patients have limited control over the prices of the medicines they require.

The NMRA Chairman also pointed out that the same medicine is often marketed under multiple brand names at varying prices, stressing that a higher price does not necessarily indicate better quality. (Newswire)

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The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) plans to revise the maximum retail prices (MRP) of 60 essential medicines after considering the appreciation of the US Dollar, NMRA Chairman Specialist Dr Ananda Wijewickrama said.

Dr Wijewickrama said the decision was prompted by the increase in the value of the US Dollar in the local market, which has affected the cost of importing medicines.

He noted that the revision could result in price increases for some medicines included under the controlled pricing mechanism.

Accordingly, the gazette issued in 2023 setting maximum retail prices for 60 essential medicines is expected to be amended.

Meanwhile, he said the NMRA is continuing inspections and raids targeting pharmacies that sell medicines above the approved maximum retail prices. (Newswire)

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The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has warned of a possible increase in medicine prices, citing rising foreign exchange rates, production costs, transport, and insurance charges.

According to the Aruna newspaper, NMRA Chairman Specialist Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said pharmaceutical companies have already written to Health Ministry Secretary Specialist Dr. Anil Jasinghe, requesting a price hike of at least 7% for 60 medicines currently under price control.

The report further states that State Pharmaceutical Corporation Chairman Shantha Bandara noted that when price controls were imposed, the US dollar stood at Rs. 295, but as of March 24, it had risen to Rs. 317.5, adding extra costs to imports.

He said the 60 controlled medicines now require a minimum 7% price increase, while other imports face higher costs due to rising production expenses, shipping, insurance, and expected electricity tariff hikes.

Sri Lanka imports around 1,800 essential and other medicines, and the current situation has significantly raised import costs, Bandara added.

Meanwhile, the Association of Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturers has also written to the Health Secretary seeking approval to raise prices. 

Local producers said packaging materials, raw materials, and production costs have all increased, compelling them to adjust prices.

They further noted that about 250 medicines are manufactured locally by 13 pharmaceutical companies operating in the country. (Newswire)

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Saveen Semage, has resigned, citing threats to his life, the Sunday Times reported.

According to the report, Semage, a public health specialist, has resigned from his post, effective Saturday (17 May). 

The move comes after it was reported that two men had broken into his house on 09 May at around 11.30 pm.

Footage from the CCTV installed at Semage’s house shows the two intruders walking around the house and also peeping into the bedrooms where Semage and his family had been asleep. 

It is reported that the Police are yet to apprehend the two intruders. 

Dr. Semagae served as the CEO of the NMRA from November 2021 to May 2022, after which he resigned over differences with former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

Ramesh Pathirana, who replaced Keheliya Rambukwella after the latter was forced to resign over irregularities in drug procurement, brought back Semage to the NMRA to clean up the drug regulatory mechanism. Thereafter, Semage was appointed as the NMRA Chief with effect from January 2024. 

“There was a lot of tension within the NMRA and the pharmaceutical industry during the last two to three weeks because of my efforts in pricing and in breaking monopolies and oligopolies to save public funds. I think the break-in was a threat in an effort to remove me,” Dr. Semage said, speaking to the Sunday Times. (Newswire)

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The Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has been informed of fake documents regarding the importing of medicines under the emergency procurement system in 2022 and 2023.

National Medicine Regulatory Authority of Sri Lanka (NMRA) CEO Saveen Semage told the committee that several fake documents have been found due to the lack of registration of medicines.

Stating that 06 such fake documents were found last year alone, Saveen Semage said he had recorded statements regarding each of the documents with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division. 

He revealed that, however, no investigations have been conducted yet into the incidents. 

“We have documents with confessions from a woman accepting that fake documents had been made. However, a statement has not even been recorded from that woman yet,” he said. 

Meanwhile, COPE member MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana also revealed that the highest number of waive-off registrations (WOR) for medicines had been obtained in 2022 and 2023.

He said 656 waive-off registrations (WOR) had been obtained in 2022 and 261 in 2023, adding that this proves that discrepancies have taken place during the emergency procurement of medicines during these periods. 

Furthermore, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya said discussions are underway on allowing the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to directly import essential medicines.

He pointed out that it was essential to take a policy decision in this regard as a solution to mitigate such discrepancies. (Newswire)

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Chairman of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama has confirmed reports of a medicine previously sold for Rs. 76,000 now being recommended to be sold for Rs. 370. 

Speaking during a televised programme, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said a specialist doctor part of a committee appointed to review medicine prices had spotted the price discrepancy related to the medicine used for heart surgeries. 

Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama clarified that the medicine, a vaccine, was not used for cancer treatment, but was used during heart surgeries. 

“When we received a tender, we saw it had been quoted around Rs. 50,000 per vaccine. A specialist doctor of the NMRA’s reviewing committee found an unusual price difference due to which he had ordered the tender to be cancelled,” Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said. 

He went on to state that further investigations into the matter had found that the medicine had been priced at Rs. 76,000 in 2018, during which time the NMRA did not impose price controls. He said that only the prices quoted by the suppliers were considered. 

“As such, the importer has quoted Rs. 76,000 in 2018. However, that price must be revised now, as the supplier’s certificate must be renewed. We informed the importer that the price will be reviewed and the medicine will be properly priced,” he said.

Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said following the necessary inquiries the NMRA has proposed the medicine to be sold at Rs. 370, which is the actual price. (Newswire)

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The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) said that the licenses of 60 pharmacies have been temporarily suspended over the past five months.

Chief Executive Officer of NMRA Dr. Saveen Semage explained that this decision was taken due to the absence of a qualified pharmacist at these establishments. (Newswire)

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The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has issued a statement addressing recent reports suggesting the possibility of widespread pharmacy closures across the island.

The claims are unfounded and based on false reports alleging that a large number of applications for annual pharmaceutical licenses were rejected, leading to fears of pharmacy closures, the NMRA said.

In a letter, NMRA Chairperson Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama clarified that the misleading report had been falsely attributed to the All Island Private Pharmaceutical Owners Association.

The NMRA emphasized that no sudden changes have been made to the pharmaceutical license approval process, and the basic criteria for obtaining licenses remain unchanged.

The authority also condemned the newspaper report for publishing false claims without verifying them with the relevant authorities. (Newswire)

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Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

According to the Health Ministry, he replaces former NMRA Chairman Prof. S.D. Jayaratne.

In the recent past, the NMRA under the leadership of Prof. S.D. Jayaratne has faced several allegations with regard to the influx of inferior-quality medicines. 

In September this year, Senior Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama accused the NMRA Director Board of having ignored recommendations made by the specialists’ consultant committee and having authorised the import of unauthorised medicines at the request of the Health Ministry.

At the time, Dr. Wijewickrama said that the Specialist Consultant Committee refused to grant approval to procure certain types of medicine, but the NMRA Director Board surpassed the recommendations of the committee and provided approval to procure some unregistered medication. (NewsWire)

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The National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Director Board has ignored recommendations made by the specialists’ consultant committee and authorised the import of medicines which the Ministry of Health had requested, Senior Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama alleged.

Speaking during a local TV talk show, Dr. Wijewickrama said that the Specialist Consultant Committee has on certain occasions refused to grant approval to procure certain types of medicine. 

He claimed that, however, the NMRA Director Board has surpassed the recommendations of the committee and provided approval to procure some unregistered medication.

“The issue at hand is that the NMRA Board is procuring medication that has not been approved by the Specialist Consultant Committee,” he said. 

Dr. Wijewickrama added that when inquired in this regard, the NMRA Director General had revealed that the NMRA was bound to approve the procurement of certain medicines if they have been approved by the Health Ministry. 

The procurement of substandard medication has been brought to the limelight following the alleged deaths of several individuals as a result of the administration of the said medications.

Several of the deaths in the recent past have been reported at state hospitals in Sri Lanka after which the medication in question has been withdrawn by the Health Ministry. (NewsWire)

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