The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) claimed that it is surprising that the health authorities continue to remain inactive over the shortage of pharmaceutical drugs, even though enough funds have been allocated to solve the problem through this year’s Budget.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, MCPA President Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa claimed that although sufficient funds had been allocated to address issues such as the ongoing drug shortage through the Budget, the situation has only worsened, with nearly 200 drugs currently in short supply.
“The Government has allocated adequate funds. However, the relevant authorities have failed in playing their role in resolving this crisis. We cannot understand why the Government continues to follow a silent policy on this issue,” he said.
He also said that it would not be possible to resolve issues in the health sector as long as certain senior officials remain in the respective positions. “For instance, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena remained silent when substandard drugs were being imported to the country under the tenure of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. He did not even attend National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) meetings to discuss the issue. As long as such officials are there, the President will not be able to resolve the health sector issues,” he said.
Speaking further, Dr. Sanjeewa charged that the NMRA and the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation had failed to update the regulation and distribution of drugs in the country even under the current Government.
“The relevant authorities have not yet established a quality control laboratory to check the quality of drugs. The continuing policy of the authorities giving priority to certain pharmaceutical companies has discouraged suppliers from joining the supply chain.”
Dr. Gunawardena was not available for comment.
Issues pertaining to various institutions in the health sector have come to light recently, including during Parliamentary committee hearings. These issues include various financial irregularities in procurement processes, the procurement of drugs without following proper tender procedures, and the importation of substandard drugs. In one case involving the importation of substandard human intravenous immunoglobulin vials, several health sector officials, including Rambukwella and former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandraguptha, were even taken into remand custody.