Hon. R.M. Gamini Ratnayake

¶ 01 Access to care should be available wherever necessary. If a person’s health is decided by the weight of their pocket—by their income—then we must discuss the fate that befalls such a person’s health.

¶ 02 Therefore, from health promotion to disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care, the complete continuum of 91 health services must be covered, and we accept that full continuum. Patient safety means protecting the patient and reducing to the lowest possible level the risk of unnecessary harm from adverse outcomes. This is our stand.

¶ 03 However, in recent times, not only our country’s health service but even the stance of some of our former Health Ministers came under question. Not only the people in the health service, but the condition of everyone else also fell to a lower level. That was the health service we inherited. From such a service, our primary objective has become to bring about improved patient safety and health security, and to reduce avoidable harm from adverse effects to a minimum level. Through these regulations, we are integrating safety and quality control systems with management processes to enhance safety and quality in the health service.

¶ 04 We all accept a certain point. According to UNICEF 2021, Sri Lanka allocated close to 1.5 percent of its GDP to health. But according to WHO guidance, household out-of-pocket spending on health for a family should be below 20 percent of household income. That is a broadly accepted norm. However, in Sri Lanka, despite a free health system, that burden has reached close to 50 percent. That means a larger portion of our income is spent on health as a burden. We all acknowledge that we have had to pay exorbitant amounts for treatments, medicines and medical services. A significant share—close to 50 percent—of household income is spent on health. This must be addressed. That is why we need medicine price regulation in our country.

¶ 05 Previously, there was no comprehensive price control for medicines. As the Opposition pointed out, in 2015 the then Health Minister set a price control mechanism for only about 40 selected medicines. But it did not proceed beyond that. A large number of medicines used by our patients had no price regulation. Now, under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act, No. 5 of 2015, we have the ability to implement proper price regulation. Accordingly, a definitive price control mechanism for medicines will be established. Once that mechanism is set, medicine prices will be determined according to it.

¶ 06 We all know the most profitable businesses in our country of late. There are a few where one can make exorbitant profits in a short time: one is the narcotics trade—much discussed these days—another is the arms trade, and the third is the medicines trade. Profits are high because there was no fixed price. I recall the State Minister of Health saying that a medicine that should have been sold for Rs. 700 was sold for Rs. 36,000. The reason was the absence of firm price regulation. Thus, the medicines market became highly profitable.

¶ 07 But it must be regulated. This will be done under the NMRA Act. Under Gazette Extraordinary No. 2446/34 of 21 July 2025, the NMRA is empowered to regulate Maximum Retail Prices. Foundational aspects arise in price regulation, and the Opposition raised points including two writ orders. Earlier, when the NMRA did not implement price regulation, medicine importers went to court and writs were issued.

¶ 08 Exercising popular sovereignty and parliamentary power, it is our duty as a democratic government to set up mechanisms for people to purchase medicines at more affordable prices and to deliver the resultant benefits to thousands of suffering patients. Therefore, I request the Opposition not to obstruct this democratic measure but to support it. With that, I conclude. Thank you very much.