(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –The prices of 64 drugs had been revised due to the appreciation of the value of the Dollar (Depreciation of the Rupee), the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne had stated.
Senaratne stressed that the prices of drugs were reduced by 200 to 800 per cent in the years 2016 and 2018.
When the value of the Dollar went up, the prices of drugs increased only by 5 per cent in 2018.
The prices of 64 drugs increased by 14 per cent this year due to the value of a Dollar increasing up to Rs. 183.
Senaratne said the arrangements will be made to reduce the prices of drugs as soon as the value of the Dollar go down again and the Rupee appreciated. The prices of 48 drugs were reduced drastically in 2016 and again the prices of another 25 drugs reduced in 2018.
The use of drugs went up due to the price reduction.
The Minister further emphasised that arrangements will be made soon to introduce E-Procurement in order to cut down the time spent on purchasing drugs by calling tenders following the traditional system.
During the previous regime 9-months were spent to purchase a drug but this time has now been reduced to 3-months.
E-procurement will further reduce this time period. The system is already in use in countries such as India and Malaysia.
