The Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, has confirmed reports that a drug previously priced at Rs. 76,000 is now being sold for Rs. 370. However, he clarified that this drug is used for heart surgeries, not cancer treatment, as some rumors suggested.
Speaking on a television program, Dr. Wijewickrama explained that a committee of expert doctors appointed to review drug prices had identified a significant price discrepancy in a medicine used for heart surgeries.
The discrepancy came to light during a tender process, where the quoted price for the medicine was unusually high, around Rs. 50,000. A specialist doctor on the review committee flagged this anomaly, leading to the cancellation of the tender.
Further investigations revealed that in 2018, before the NMRA had implemented price controls, the drug was being sold for Rs. 76,000. However, the need to renew the supplier’s certification prompted the NMRA to reevaluate the price. After a detailed review, the NMRA determined that the actual cost of the medicine should be Rs. 370.
Dr. Wijewickrama emphasized that this significant price reduction is a result of stringent oversight and regulatory intervention by the NMRA. The move underscores the authority’s commitment to ensuring affordability and fairness in the pharmaceutical market, particularly for critical medications used in life-saving heart surgeries.
