By Don Asoka Wijewardena
Organizing Secretary of the Prof. Senaka Bibile Commemorative Committee Dr. Jayantha Bandara cautioned that the contents of the proposed National Drug Policy were neither transparent nor accountable.
Prof. Bibile’s drug policy had been completely distorted. It advocated an end to pharmaceutical imports by the private sector.
Dr. Bandara said that drug imports, transport and distribution had to be handled solely by the State. Multinational drug companies were exploiting the people and it was the duty of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to present the contents of the government policy document for public discussion, suggestions and criticism before enacting laws in Parliament, he said.
The Health Minister’s recent announcement that laws would be made to control prices of drugs was puzzling. Dr. Bandara said, adding that there were many pharmacies and it was not practicable to keep a tab on each and every one of them.
Dr. Bandara pointed out that Prof. Bilile’s principal aim was the elimination of the private sector involvement in pharmaceutical imports. The proposed National Drug Policy should not deviate from Prof. Bibile’s goal, he said.
Dr. Bandara said that if Minister Sirisena intended to implement the National Drug Policy in keeping with Prof. Bibile’s recommendations, the government would have to take measures to set up a mechanism to control drug imports and distribution.
Prices of drugs sold in pharmacies could not be controlled by simply sending circulars, Dr. Bandara said.
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