Sri Lanka overdosed!
- CNL Reporter
- June 20, 2025
- News
- Sri Lanka
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Sri Lankans consume medicines at above-normal levels
Proper guidelines in medication can halve the number of pharmaceuticals in use
Govt. purchases pharmaceuticals under 863 generic categories
Colombo, June 20 (Daily Mirror) – Sri Lankans consume medicines at above-normal levels, with the health sector procuring pharmaceuticals under 863 generic categories – two-thirds imported and the rest locally manufactured – a volume that could be nearly halved through proper therapeutic guidelines, resulting in significant cost savings, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni said.
Dr. Wijemuni told Daily Mirror yesterday that the Health Ministry had given mind to develop guidelines to be followed by medical professionals in prescribing drugs to their patients. He said the government sets aside Rs.185 billion to purchase pharmaceuticals annually.
“We are a nation with a surprisingly high level of consumption of medicines. We purchase medicines under 863 generic categories. Besides, various colleges of medical specialists have asked for 83 more generic drugs. Even in countries such as the United Kingdom, a lesser number of pharmaceuticals are used,” he said.
By developing therapeutic guidelines, he said the current number of drug categories could be reduced to 450-500.
In addition to cost savings, he said the number of pills and capsules annually used could be reduced drastically through such an exercise.
“Today, we see dosages of medicines prescribed for patients with illnesses and conditions varying according to medical practitioners. We must have prescription guidelines for it,” he said.
Commenting on the current drug shortage, he said procedural delays in placement of orders and collection of reports from respective hospitals on requirements had resulted in the shortage.
“We placed orders this year for next year’s requirements. It takes eight or nine months for the supply. Last year, there was a delay in this regard placing orders. The lack of financial allocations due to the economic crisis too would have been a reason. As for the next year’s requirement, we have already placed orders for around 300 generic categories of medicines. It had not happened the same way last year in ordering for the current year,” he said.
Importers selected by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) also keep delaying the supplies in some instances, resulting in shortages, according to him.
The Cabinet approval has now been received to purchase pharmaceuticals for a buffer stock in the future.
