Minister reveals petty profiteering of drug business

Some multinational drug companies present the best quality samples when they obtain tenders from the Health Ministry but they provide low quality drugs after obtaining the tenders, said Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

The minister was addressing the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries annual price giving at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo recently.

The minister said some foreign drug companies earn 700 or 800 percent profits by supplying drugs. He said a foreign company obtained tenders continually to supply a medical equipment an a drug at a high price.

When a local company came forward to provide the same at a low price, the foreign company offered the medical equipment and the drug at a price much lower than the price they supplied before, he said.

Minister Sirisena said he gave instructions to officials to take decisions that protect local companies. Profits should be earned while offering drugs to the people at a reasonable price, he said. The government and the Health Ministry work together with drug suppliers and manufacturers. Their problems can be solved, he said.

They should provide high quality drugs as agreed while obtaining tenders, Minister Sirisena said.