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In response to an appeal made by Medical Faculty students to all political parties, the JVP has pledged it would work towards a ban on the import of medicinal drugs under expensive brand names.
It has also pledged that all drug imports would be brought under state control and doctors would be obliged under the law to prescribe drugs only under generic names. The appeal had been made by the Medical Faculty students Involved in Rational Health Action (SIRHA) which with other groups such as the Action Committee on Justice for Patients works towards the provision of good quality and efficacious drugs at the lowest possible price. The main opposition UNP in response to the appeal has also pledged that within two years it would implement Senaka Bible principles on rational use of drugs under generic names.
The UNP also pledged it would discourage the import of non-essential expensive drugs and strengthen the Drug Regulatory system. The UNP pledged it would not privatise the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation or the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation. The ruling PA while not giving a direct response to the nine questions gave a statement broadly outlining its medicinal drug policy. In a radical policy statement on health services, the JVP said the drug registration process would be reviewed and the registration of all expensive brand names cancelled.
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