Sri Lanka opens first EU-GMP compliant US$ 18.5 million pharma facility
The government of Sri Lanka is currently looking at promoting local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products so that foreign exchange can be earned creating a competitive market ensuring quality and effectiveness of the drugs prescribed while reducing the imports of prescribed drugs.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi has stated that the pharmaceutical industry would enable Sri Lanka to penetrate the international market, especially the South East Asian market other than the traditional exports of the country.
The Minister had made this observation at the opening of the country’s largest pharma manufacturing facility, the Morison factory at Nano Technology Park in Pitipana, Homagama in the presence of Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa recently.
This is the second manufacturing facility of Morison PLC.
The factory is ready to commence validation batches and is expected to commence commercial production early next year, supporting the Sri Lankan government’s aim to manufacture essential medicines locally, the Daily News stated.
Morison’s new facility with an investment of USD 18.5 million reaches a major milestone in Sri Lanka, being the first European Union-Good Manufacturing Practice (EU-GMP) compliant oral solid dosage manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka, the news report further noted.
“We urge the government to implement stable consistent regulations because unless without consistency in the policies and regulations it is tough to operate,” Group CEO, Hemas Holdings PLC, Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson has been quoted as saying.
She has also stated that with the partnership with SLINTEC they had conducted research on the deployment of nano and advanced technology and would therefore ensure that Hemas along with Morison will be able to take new products out of the region.
Managing Director, Morison PLC Murtaza Esufally has said, “The launch of the new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility marks a new era for Morison PLC, continuing our 80-year long mission to offer the highest quality products at affordable prices. This investment is supported through the guaranteed buy-back agreements that will help us to build economies of scale and be more competitive in global markets.”
“Continued government support will enable us to create a stronger footprint in exports and begin contract manufacture partnerships with global Pharma companies, helping Sri Lanka earn foreign exchange as we look to the future.”
According to the news report, Morison is committed to increasing access to high quality, affordable medicines to all Sri Lankans and enables it with the new plant, with a capacity to supply over 20% of Sri Lanka’s tablet needs.
Esufally has further noted that the new plant has an annual production capacity of five billion tablets and 10 million bottles of medicine working at peak capacity on a double shift. The plant also has the first zero liquid discharge wastewater systems in the country.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s health sector is on a steady growth path with prominence being given to the manufacture of high quality pharmaceuticals. The government of Sri Lanka is focused on increasing its pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity as well as looking at export markets. Sri Lanka’s health sector therefore has many business/investment opportunities.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/16102020/Z_3 |