The Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI), in a letter dated 29 December 2022 to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), has raised concerns about media reports regarding Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella seeking Cabinet approval to import a range of medicines from India on an urgent basis.

The SLCPI had expressed its deep concern and registered its protest regarding the incident, while seeking clarification from the NMRA on how such an agreement could have been reached.

This comes in the wake of controversy following a move by the Health Minister to award a large order of medicines to one supplier and seek Cabinet approval for it to be imported under the Indian Line of Credit. It was alleged that the Minister had planned a visit to India with help from the company he had awarded the contract to.

The SLCPI questioned if the pharmaceuticals which were to be purchased had been registered with the NMRA, which is the sole and final authority that determines which pharmaceuticals are imported and used in the country.

“Under the NMRA Act No. 5 of 2015, the NMRA is the sole authority in the country responsible for the registration of all pharmaceuticals and for setting, maintaining, and ensuring the quality of such pharmaceutical products in the country. Therefore, was the NMRA kept informed of these actions by the Hon. Minister?” the SLCPI has questioned. 

Expressing concern regarding the irregular nature of the agreement, the SLCPI in its letter to the NMRA warned: “Such actions give rise to serious concerns in the industry and set a dangerous precedent.” 

The SLCPI also questioned whether such actions were in line with the NMRA Act No. 5 of 2015.

“Is the NMRA prepared to allow the same kind of privilege to other manufacturers who, in some cases, are much more reputable than the manufacturers mentioned in the media reports? If such procedures are allowed, doesn’t that make the very institution of NMRA and its designated functions completely redundant?” the pharmaceutical industry body questioned.

The SLCPI stated that this kind of action, if the reports were accurate, would endanger the very fabric of not only the pharmaceutical industry, but also Sri Lankan society as a whole.

Attempts by The Sunday Morning to contact the Minister of Health and the NMRA regarding the concerns raised by the SLCPI failed.