News
SPC suspends tender to import ‘Esmolol’ injections over pricing issue
View(s):Assures no shortage of drug in state sector; plans afoot to secure the drug under Indian Credit Line at a lower cost
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
A tender awarded to import ‘Esmolol’ injections was suspended last week by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) over a pricing issue, with measures now being taken to get this drug under the Indian Credit Line.
Esmolol is used in the control of rapid heartbeats or an abnormal heart rhythm.
When contacted by the Sunday Times, SPC Chairman Sarath Liyanage said that he suspended the tender on a pricing issue. The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) had placed a Maxim Retail Price (MRP) of Rs. 53,200 per vial in 2019. The SPC called for tenders for its import and the tender was awarded in December 2021 to the lowest bidder, a company called Eureka, whose local agent is Yaden Pharmaceutical Importers and Distributors.
This month, Yaden opened a “life-saving” pharmaceuticals manufacturing plant at Katunayake, reportedly a “first” in the country, attended by powerful politicians of all hues.
“The tender was for the import of Esmolol at a cost of Singapore $256 and the exchange rate at that time was around Rs. 199.9. As such the rate per vial amounted to around Rs. 51,174, which was below the MRP set by the NMRA,” said Mr. Liyanage, explaining that when the imports were due in August 2022 (two months ago), the price per vial had shot up to Rs. 92,963. This was though the awarded price remained the same but there being a dollar fluctuation.
He said: “By August 2022, however, the NMRA had slashed the MRP to Rs. 1,835.80 per vial. Therefore, as the SPC had not established the LC (Letter of Credit), the SPC was entitled to suspend the tender to import it. We have made arrangements to secure Esmolol, an essential drug, under the Indian Credit Line at a ‘very much lower’ cost.
Asked what the cost under the Indian Credit Line was, he said he did not have the figures in hand. The Indian High Commission is the channel through which the injections would be secured after the issuance of a relevant number to import it.
Mr. Liyanage stated that there would not be a shortage of this drug for state sector patients as the SPC also had the facility of ordering three months stocks if the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) informed it of shortages, through two Emergency Purchase Units based at the Health Ministry.
Attempts by the Sunday Times to contact Yaden Pharmaceutical Importers and Distributors proved to be futile.
Referring to allegations over the import of eye-drops being imported at Rs. 123,000 per bottle as “amulika boru” (absolute lies), he said that the product in question was Tropicamide.
The reference number allotted to it at the MSD was SR 00901501 and the requirement was 40,000 bottles. The tender closed on March 31, 2022 and the price of each bottle under the selected tender is US$ 0.855 (around Rs. 308), he said, requesting that unfair allegations of high prices should not be levelled against the SPC.
“Then people would be worried about buying their medicines from state Osu Salas and instead patronise private pharmacies which charge much more,” he added.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!