By Shamindra Ferdinando

The National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has reminded the government that the severe shortage of medicine and medical equipment as well as the continuing increase in the price of the entire range of medicines is due to the prevailing foreign currency crunch.

NMRA President Dr. Rasitha Wijewantha and CEO Dr. Sachin Semage said that attempts were being made to blame his institution for the crisis but the situation had taken a turn for the worse due to the severe foreign exchange shortage.

Responding to criticism of the NMRA, at a recent meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, to discuss the growing crisis in the health sector, the NMRA officials questioned the absurdity of blaming the regulatory mechanism as those in authority publicly acknowledged the shortage of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and all other essential services and products due to lack of foreign currency.

NMRA officials emphasized that interruption of electricity, transport and other services caused by financial turmoil largely contributed to the disruption of the industry. They pointed out that other regulatory bodies hadn’t been blamed for the crises in their respective sectors.

Among those who had been present at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat meeting were Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, MP Nimal Lanza, former MP Ruwan Wijewardene, Government Nursing Officers’ Association President and former UNP National List MP Saman Ratnapriya and President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science Ravi Kumudesh.

The NMRA has strongly denied accusations pertaining to the inordinate delay in releasing medicines and medical

equipment received as donations as the country struggled to meet both public and private sector requirements. The regulatory body declared that a special mechanism had been established to expedite the process.

Keheliya Rambukwella recently received the health portfolio after being replaced by Prof. Channa Jayasumana in April this year following a political crisis triggered by violent protests at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at Mirihana. Rambukwella previously received the health portfolio in August 2021 after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sacked Pavitra Wanniarachchi over the criticism of her handling of the Covid-19 epidemic.

At the meeting chaired by Premier Wickremesinghe, the NMRA has been accused of discouraging local producers of various medicines. The NMRA explained that a special unit that had been set up to look after the interests of the local producers over the past two months registered 150 new products. During the same period, 20 new producers were granted license to operate following checks, the NMRA said, adding that among them were four producers of four new products.

The NMRA also explained measures taken during the past two months to expedite the release of medicine and equipment received from abroad.

The NMRA has warned of efforts by unscrupulous elements taking advantage of the current crisis to import and produce low quality products while making attempts to weaken regulatory measures. The NMRA has urged the government to be wary of these elements who may pursue strategies with a view to making profits in the future.

The NMRA has advised those in authority to take tangible actions to address the issues at hand or face the consequences.

Meanwhile, the People’s Movement for the Rights of Patients (PMRP) in a letter dated May 28 has urged Premier Wickremesinghe not to take a hasty decision to bring the NMRA under the purview of the Health Ministry.

The outfit’s Joint Secretary C. Perera has pointed out that the NMRA had been established to regulate, minimize corruption and make available quality medicines at affordable prices to the general public. But, some interested parties seemed to be working overtime to undermine the NMRA, the organization stated.  A spokesperson for the outfit said that those elected and appointed to the Parliament should be ashamed of the situation. “We are begging for life saving medicines and equipment from various countries and lending agencies after having failed at least to properly assess the situation,” the spokesperson said, urging the Parliament watchdog committee COPE to inquire into the matter.

Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama. Consultant Physician, IDH, has queried the attempt to blame the NMRA for the current crisis as the minister in charge if the health portfolio was responsible for making available sufficient funds.

The top specialist said that disrupting the regulatory mechanisms would benefit those who received commissions for granting ‘registration’ for substandard medicines and medical equipment.