Sri Lanka Pharmaceuticals manufacturing corporation commemorates 25 years

With a view of providing drugs to Sri Lankans at a reasonable price while breaking the monopoly the multinationals were enjoying, in 1970s Professor Senaka Bibile proposed to manufacture drugs in Sri Lanka became a reality in 1985.

Professor Bibile is renowned for creating the National Drugs Policy which won global recognition. State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) was established as a result of Professor Bibile's unique proposal.

SPMC, built on Japanese financial aid conforms to the contemporary techniques of manufacturing standards, using Japanese and German machinery. Every division of SPMC is conforms to the Global Manufacturing Process (GMP) requirements under the recommendations of the World Health Organization, while the manufacturing process is in line with the British and American Drugs Codes.

SPMC ensures that the best quality raw materials from leading manufacturers by calling world-wide tenders are used in its product portflio. Further, manufacturing of high quality formulas prepared by the own workforce of SPMC is a major accomplishment the Corporation has achieved. It intends to increase the production capacity by many folds in the year 2014 with financial aid from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).

According to the Chairman of SPMC, Professor S.D. Jayarathna, the main challenge it faces at present is the insufficient production capacity to meet the demand.

However, they intend to reach this target by 2014 and expressed hope that the SPMC will be able to produce all the necessary drug requirements in the near future. The SPMC expects to further break into the market share the multinationals currently enjoy and continue to be a significant contributor to the development of our nation, said Professor Jayarathna.

63 varieties of essential Drugs required for various illnesses are presently being produced at SPMC and the largest percentage of same them are made available to the medical supplies section of the Health Ministry while the balance is supplied to the open market. SPMC was able to maintain a production process delivering the highest level of productivity by providing continuous professional development opportunities to its staff to participate in local and foreign workshops and increasing their motivation and efficiency.

The corporation has contributed towards the protection of the environment by closely adhering to the Central Environmental Authority's recommendations on waste disposal. SPMC makes an invaluable contribution by conducting advisory services, health medical clinics and community services in the country.

It should also be stated that providing pharmacological graduates and pharmacists who are required by the medical field, with training on the drug industry is a special task carried out by the SPMC.

The Corporation has become an exemplary enterprise by functioning as a profit-making venture in an era where state enterprises have become a somewhat burden to the state.

This, no doubt is a relief to the masses of this country in addition to its core value of providing high quality drugs at a reasonable price.