Industry urges Health Minister to halt proposed G2G pharma imports
- CNL Reporter
- May 5, 2025
- News
- medicine
- 0 Comments
Three leading pharmaceutical associations in Sri Lanka have called on Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa to immediately halt the proposed government-to-government (G2G) pharmaceutical import initiative as it could jeopardise patient safety, cripple local manufacturing, and open doors to corruption.
In a letter, the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI), the National Chamber of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Sri Lanka (NCPMSL), and the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (SLPMA) expressed deep concern over the plan to import medicines directly from foreign governments.
The associations claimed the alleged medicine shortages used as justification for the move, were artificially created through delayed procurement, blocked registrations, and ignored stock availability by officials with “vested interests.”
They emphasised that existing local manufacturers and importers are capable of meeting demand if supported with fair pricing and timely procurement.
The letter also warned that bypassing competitive tender procedures could violate IMF guidelines and facilitate large-scale corruption.
The joint appeal called for an immediate halt to the G2G imports, an investigation into possible manipulation by officials, expedited registration processes, and open stakeholder dialogue to ensure sustainable medicine supply.
