💊 SL Health Ministry Reinstates & Expands Medicine Price Controls

• Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the successful reintroduction of price controls for 350 essential medicines this week, utilizing the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) powers. • The Ministry is now considering expanding the regulatory framework to cover an additional 200 varieties of medicines. • Significant price reductions have been implemented across categories including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and paediatric illnesses: • Cancer drug Paclitaxel (100mg/vial) reduced from approximately Rs. 42,000 to Rs. 26,332. • Nimodipine IV Infusion (for paralysis patients) reduced from Rs. 6,348 to Rs. 4,100. • The move aims to reverse the impact of excessive charges by private pharmacies and hospitals following a temporary halt in controls in December 2023. • The State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) also introduced new locally manufactured medicines this year to boost affordable supply, including Celecoxib 200 mg (min. Rs. 17.60) and Sitagliptin 100 mg (cap Rs. 32).