National drug policy on way

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Minister Maithripala Sirisena assured the public that he would definitely implement the National Drug Policy during his tenure as Health Minister.

"Shortly I will instruct the authorities to draft a Drug Regulatory Act. I will definitely implement the National Drug Policy at least to a certain extent before I leave the position of Health Minister he said.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a conference on drug registration held at Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo Minister Sirisena said he has already identified all obstacles which prevent the implementation of the National Drug Policy.

Many health ministers in the past tried to implement it but failed. But I will not put it into a safe and lock it, he added.

Minister Sirisena said, daily he receives a large number of public complaints, petitions, anonymous letters in connection with various malpractices and corruption taking place in the Health Ministry and other institutions operating under the purview of his Ministry.

All those letters, complaints and petitions have names of officials/workers and the amounts of bribes that should be paid to them to get official duties done. Both good and bad, positive and negative elements did exist in the Ministry in the past.

It is natural. But we have to serve to the public. That is the most important task, he said.

It seems the ministry and its institutions need to conduct seminars, conferences, workshops as well as meditation classes.

We need to teach staff a new method of meditation and tell them to practise it similar to the Mathri Bhavana. All the institutions involved in drugs, medical equipment and registering these do not have a good reputation. Transparency is essential for these institutions, the Minister said.

The Ministry spent Rs 3,000 million last year on emergency purchasing of drugs.

It happened because of the shortcomings of the system and procedures. Recently people who sought treatment from the OPD of Polonnaruwa hospital complained about a shortage of certain drugs. When inquired all those drugs were available in the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) of the Ministry. There should be a 'reason' for such incidents happening the Minister added.