National Medicinal Drug Policy:

SC grants AG time

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

The Supreme Court yesterday granted the Attorney General time to get instructions in the Rights application filed by the People's Movement for Patients Rights who sought Court direction to implement National Medicinal Drug Policy.

Senior State Counsel Viveka Siriwardane moved for time to get instructions from the respondents.

Counsel Chrishmal Warnasuriya for the petitioners, People's Movement for Patients Rights and its President Journalist Louis Benedict, submitted that a committee comprising late Dr. Senaka Bibile recommended that the implementation of the National Medicinal Drug Policy in the 1970s.

The counsel submitted that with the subsequent governments which came to power in 1977 did not implement the recommendation. He submitted that the Health Minister contemplated presenting a new Bill to set up a National Medicinal Drug Regulatory Authority and the implementation of the National Medicinal Drug Policy in 2008. However, there had been a long silence since then, the counsel submitted. He submitted that the failure to present the Bill in Parliament was in violation of the rights of the petitioners' as well as the public.

The petitioners sought to present the Bill in Parliament and to implement the National Medicinal Drugs Policy. Chrishmal Warnasuriya appeared for the petitioner. SSC Viveka Siriwardane appeared for the Attorney General. The case will be mentioned on September 10.