With the participation of institutions under the Ministry of Health, discussions were held regarding future plans related to the health sector at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health held recently (09) under the Chairmanship of Hon. Mayantha Dissanayake.
Officials of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Services Department, National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation, SPMC, Department of Ayurveda, National Drug Regulatory Authority and Medical Research Institute were also present at the Committee.
The officers gave presentations and explanations about the challenges in drug distribution, problems in obtaining drugs through foreign aid, quality assurance of drugs, the need to regulate drug prices, shortage of drugs, lack of human resources in the Ayurveda department. Furthermore, opportunities to promote health tourism in Sri Lanka through traditional medicine were also discussed.
Also, the officials informed that 96 essential medicines are manufactured by the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC), in 2022, 9 new types of drugs have been announced and another 20 new types of drugs are to be introduced. Furthermore, the officials pointed out that they are looking into the possibilities of exporting the additional medicines produced in this way.
Members of Parliament Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Hon. Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Hon. Lalith Varna Kumara, Hon. Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Hon. Samanpriya Herath, Hon. Imran Maharoof, Hon. (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi, Hon. (Ms.) Rajika Wickramasinghe were present at this Committee meeting held.
