Registration of New Suppliers Expedited to Combat Medicine Price Monopoly

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Deputy Minister of Health and Media, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni says that the prices of medicines were significantly reduced through the creation of competition among pharmaceutical suppliers.

He mentioned that in the past, only one supplier had been registered for the supply of certain medicines.

As a result, due to the monopoly in the market, the government was forced to purchase these medicines at higher prices.

Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni explained that, accordingly, the registration of new suppliers for medicines that previously had only one supplier was expedited.

He further stated that about 2,800 pharmaceutical suppliers who had submitted registration applications were swiftly examined for documentation.

The Deputy Minister added that all of these suppliers will be registered before March this year, following qualification checks.