It has been revealed that a large number of medicines imported into Sri Lanka are not essential for the use of the people of Sri Lanka.
It has been discussed in the National Assembly sub-committee to identify short and medium-term programs related to the stabilization of the economy that the lack of proper regulation has become a big problem due to the importation of drugs in a large quantity of brands for one type of drug.
Therefore, attention was paid to the re-establishment of a high-level technical committee, as was the case during the Covid-19 epidemic, to identify the drug needs of the people of Sri Lanka and what drugs are essential to meet it.
These views were expressed when the National Assembly sub-committee for identifying short and medium-term programs related to economic stabilization met in Parliament yesterday (14) under the chairmanship of its chairman, Member of Parliament Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka, to receive expert opinions on the use of drugs in Sri Lanka.
Comments were also expressed regarding the fact that the procurement process for the importation and distribution of drugs to Sri Lanka takes a lot of time and lacks formal coordination.
The scholars presented their views and plans to the committee regarding the regularization and coordination of this procurement process.
The committee also focused on the possibility of using proven medicines in indigenous medicine to prevent diseases.
In addition to that, the need to popularize foods and alternative local medicines that can be used to reduce diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are the most used drugs in Sri Lanka, was also emphasized.
The problems that have arisen in the production of local medicines were also discussed at length in the committee.
