SPC won't be privatised - Minister
by Shanika Sriyananda
Minister of Health and Nutrition Nimal Siripala de Silva has assured
that the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) would not be privatised
and in fact it was a good example to show that the state sector could
compete with the private sector when using good management strategies.
"Some international agencies such as the World Bank and Asian
Development Bank say the state sector institutions are inactive and not
competitive. But the SPC is the best example that the state sector can
be competitive having good management skills", he said.
Minister de Silva addressing the Annual Suppliers' Convention at the
Kandalama Hotel yesterday said that some suppliers, after being awarded
the tender, had failed to supply drugs regularly and this has created an
artificial shortage of some drugs in state hospitals.
He also said that the Ministry would take action to cancel the
licences of local and foreign suppliers who delay the supply of medical
drugs and also those who supply poor quality drugs to the SPC.
He said that an overall study would be conducted about the supply of
drugs and the licences of those suppliers, who fail to maintain a smooth
supply of drugs to the SPC would be cancelled. "This is mainly to
maintain a good flow of drugs to the state hospitals and also to avoid
sub standard drugs entering the market", Minister de Silva said.
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