The medicinal drugs industry has joined the arms industry in becoming the most corrupt and fraudulent industry in the world, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.
Addressing a meeting of pharmaceutical dealers held at the Taj Samudra hotel, the Minister said he was aware that some top government officials in Sri Lanka also were involved in this major fraud which resulted in low quality or counterfeit drugs being sold to the people. He pledged he would take stern action against such officials and introduce measures soon to ensure that all the people of Sri Lanka had access to quality drugs at affordable prices.
Maithripala sirisena |
The Minister said the health problems of many Sri Lankans had worsened because they were getting low quality drugs and urgent measures were required to remedy the situation.
The meeting was organized by the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries on the theme ‘Saving Sri Lankan Families from counterfeit drugs’. Among others who attended were officials of the United States Department of State, Department of Commerce, US Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis and Sri Lankan Health Ministry Secretary Ravindra Ruberu. Minister Sirisena said giving low quality or counterfeit drugs to people was a criminal act and stern punishment would be given to those involved in the fraud.
He said honourable and incorruptible officials were needed to tackle this major fraud because the drug mafia involved in it was able to give any amount of money to anyone at any time to achieve their agenda. The health minister also stressed the need to make people aware that low quality or counterfeit drugs were being widely sold. He said people trusted the doctors, pharmacists and health officials therefore they had a special responsibility to give correct awareness and advise to the people. Minister Sirisena said the countries in which the medicinal drugs were manufactured had a responsibility to ensure that the drugs were safe, effective and good in quality.
Therefore he was thankful to the US government for offering to help to ensure that low quality or counterfeit drugs were not sent to Sri Lanka. |
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