The Hon. Hector Appuhamy

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, at the time of adjournment I wish to raise a Special Question to the Hon. Minister of Health.

¶ 02 The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is mandated to ensure that all medicines, medical devices, products and cosmetics are provided to consumers with quality, safety, efficacy and at affordable prices, in line with the National Medicines Policy. Against that backdrop, I seek answers to the following:

¶ 03 1. As at present, how many lifesaving medicines, including priority medicines, are in shortage nationwide?

¶ 04 2. What immediate mechanisms exist to procure essential medicines quickly from local manufacturers, and what due processes are in place to procure imported medicines?

¶ 05 3. Does the Hon. Minister acknowledge that, due to the actions of the NMRA Chairman, local manufacturers face many difficulties?

¶ 06 4. Is the Minister aware that the Chairman and certain officials give special preference to Indian manufacturers? If so, does he accept that irregularities occur in that process?

¶ 07 5. Exporting locally manufactured medicines brings reputation and income to the country. Delays in medicine registration seriously affect this. What is the NMRA’s operational plan to address registration delays?

¶ 08 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, the Minister is doing considerable work in health; our concern is specifically about the NMRA Chairman and his team. At a time of medicine shortages, local manufacture is a solution, yet even after producing, registration can take a year or more, causing hardship for patients and the Government. The Chairman’s competence is in question—how are essential medicines identified, and how are prices determined? Sometimes one price is set for India and another for Sri Lanka—how does this happen? What steps will you take regarding the NMRA Chairman and this situation?