National Drug Policy to Parliament soon

Nadira Gunatilleke

The National Drug Policy will be presented to Parliament before the end of this year. The formulation of two bills have been completed, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

Addressing the 40th anniversary of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation and the Prof. Senaka Bibile Commemoration 2011 held at the BMICH, Colombo yesterday Minister Sirisena said he was addressing the commemoration after completing work on two bills relating to the National Drug Policy. The two bills are to be presented to Parliament after presenting them to the Cabinet. The minister requested the cooperation of all health staff to implement the policy once it is passed. It is the duty and the responsibility of all health staff, he said.

The minister thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for assisting him to accelerate the work on the two bills. He also thanked the people who filed a case in courts demanding the implementation of the National Drug Policy for helping him to make Prof. Senaka Bibile's dream come true.

Certain circulars related to the implementation of the policy are to be issued by January. Other circulars are to be issued later, he said. Minister Sirisena said during the past 18 months, he was able to make the situation of the health sector positive by 50 percent and health is the most problematic, corrupt and stressful subject he has handled when comparing with the nine ministries he headed earlier.