Nadira GUNATILLEKE
The value of imported drugs that faced quality failures from 2006 to 2010 is Rs. 77.6 million. The Health Ministry has recovered Rs. 32.3 million from companies for the drugs supplied by them and faced quality failures, a Health Ministry spokesman said.
"The ministry will recover the balance money paid to companies for the low quality drugs supplied by them. The ministry is in the process of solving conflicts and problems. The ministry also recovered Rs. 58 million from the bonds of suppliers who did not supply quality drugs on time as agreed.
The ministry spent over Rs. 280 million to purchase drugs from foreign companies during the period from 2006 to 2010. The value of drugs which were banned and taken out of the market and hospitals due to quality failures is over Rs.70 million. The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) authorities handed over a special report on the drugs which faced quality failures to Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday, the spokesman said.
The ministry offer tenders to foreign companies to supply drugs under the recommendations of an experts' panel comprising university professors, doctors etc.
The ministry appointed this panel to assure the quality of drugs. Only high quality drugs get approval of this panel. But the suppliers often do not supply drugs on time as agreed and even when they supply drugs, they come in small amounts. Many such drugs, face quality failures and the health authorities are forced to stop using such drugs immediately. This causes drug shortages in the country, he added.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/08/17/news21.asp
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