Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical manufacturing corporation expedites local pharma manufacturing process
Sri Lanka’s State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) has reportedly launched the locally-manufactured Clopidogrel 75mg under the ‘Aluth Ratata, Aluth Beheth’ (New medicines for a new country) programme.
According to reports, Clopidogrel is an anti-platelet medication used to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in high-risk patients. This is also the second medication produced under the new programme with Gabapentin 300mg released to the market in September.
The programme reportedly aims at reducing health sector costs to import drugs to the country by manufacturing required drugs within the country.
According to a statement issued by Sri Lanka’s State Ministry for Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation, the government of Sri Lanka spends Rs. 317 million to import this particular drug annually, with the private sector spending Rs. 400 million.
The SPMC will provide a pill for Rs. 2.10 to the Medical Supplies Division (MSD), local media reports stated.
The Ministry has further noted that a new drug will be launched on a monthly basis under the programme with a drug launched every two weeks next year.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s health sector is focused on doubling its pharmaceutical manufacturing process in order to meet its pharmaceutical demand locally. This has opened up many business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s health sector. Also, given Sri Lanka’s geographical positioning in the Indian Ocean, ease of doing business environment and trade relations with many countries has created business/investment opportunities to explore in pharmaceutical manufacturing and exports sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/28102020/Z_1 |