National Drug Policy by next March

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Health Ministry will introduce the National Drug Policy by March next year, Ministry Secretary Dr Nihal Jayatilleke said.

Dr Jayatilleke said the final draft of the National Drug Policy is ready and will get the Attorney General's endorsement in the next few weeks.

"It is expected to submit the Cabinet paper by the first week of February 2013. The policy is to be gazetted. The National Drug Policy will be presented to Parliament by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena within a month after obtaining public opinion and proposals," he said.

Dr Jayatilleke said the policy is to be presented to the Parliamentary Select Committee before presenting to Parliament.

He said under Mahinda Chinthanaya - Vision for the Future, it is expected to establish a people -friendly drug policy.

The introduction of the National Drug Policy based on Prof Senaka Bibile's Drug Policy was delayed. Minister Sirisena immediately paid his attention towards the issue and accelerated the work of the policy by appointing a committee, Dr Jayatilleke said.