NGO levelling unfounded allegations - SLCPI

Referring to recent media reports, which pointed towards bribery and corruption involving the pharmaceutical industry as a whole, the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) went on record saying that it wished to clearly distance itself from such allegations.

The Pharmaceutical Chamber reiterates that it has and will always support the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) as a necessity for the healthcare sector of this country, a fact they say, has been communicated many times to the relevant authorities.

"It is regrettable, therefore, that the pharmaceutical industry has constantly been at the receiving end of criticism from certain sections of the media and parties with vested interests," said COO, SLCPI, Dr P. Samarakoon.

"The SLCPI is aware that there has been a certain NGO, which for some time, has been levelling unfounded allegations against the pharmaceutical industry, creating unnecessary doubts among the public," he said.

"It is one of the primary responsibilities of the pharmaceutical industry to update the advances in therapeutics and support medical education programs of healthcare professional bodies, which is an integral part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) towards the healthcare sector," added the COO.

The SLCPI said that one of the key aspects in the misinformation that has been spread by this NGO is the confusion created in the minds of the patients and policy makers with regard to innovator and generic drugs.

Fundamentally, for healthcare to be successful in any country, generic drugs, innovator and branded generics have co-existed in harmony, which creates a healthy choice for all stakeholders.

The membership of the SLCPI has suppliers from all three segments and comply with all government regulations, while maintaining a proper system of checks and balances before making these pharmaceuticals available to the end user.

It is unfortunate that the facilities available for testing drugs in Sri Lanka are currently inadequate to prevent spurious drugs, substandard products and smuggled goods from entering the market.

The NMRA would help to right this situation by setting up state-of-the-art quality control labs, which conform to international standards.

The Chamber believes that with the implementation of such facilities, there would be a natural elimination of poor quality manufacturers who might already be registered and are marketing their products in the country.

This elimination would automatically reduce the number of pharmaceutical products that exist in the market.