Medicine price hike plans are underway as NMRA studies price revisions for 60 controlled drugs amid rupee and import cost pressures.
A medicine price hike gazette is being prepared as health authorities move to revise prices of 60 medicines currently under maximum price control.
Health authorities are taking preliminary steps to publish a new government gazette within next week, revising the prices of sixty types of medicines that have had maximum price limits imposed.
When asked about the matter, National Medicines Regulatory Authority Chairman Specialist Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama confirmed that a special scientific study is already underway.
He said the study is examining possible price changes for locally manufactured and imported medicines, including the 60 drugs currently subject to price control.
Dr. Wijewickrama pointed out that several factors have contributed to the need for a revision in medicine prices.
Among them are the depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee against the US dollar, disruptions to supply chains caused by the ongoing war situation in the Middle East, and the rising cost of local medicine production.
He also noted that the majority of medicines required for Sri Lanka’s healthcare system must be imported from abroad, making local prices highly sensitive to exchange rate movements and international supply conditions.
The move has also been taken after considering requests made by associations representing medicine importers.
However, Dr. Wijewickrama emphasized that prices of all medicines available in the market will not be increased.
He said the price revision will be carried out only after identifying medicines that genuinely require changes in their controlled prices.
The National Medicines Regulatory Authority is continuing its full investigation into the matter before the final gazette is issued.
