Sri Lanka increases local production of drugs
View(s):Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical sector has stepped up efforts during the past two years to cater to the national demand for drugs in the midst of import restrictions compelled by the global pandemic.
The industry revival is a result of the Memorandum of Understanding followed by a Joint-Venture Agreement signed between State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) and the members of the National Chamber of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Sri Lanka (NCPM) in 2017, the NCPM said in a media release this week.
At present, 15- 20 per cent of the total local drug requirement is fulfilled by SPMC and joint venture partners of SPMC under strict adherence to quality standards stipulated by the SPMC and other homegrown manufacturers.
“The pharmaceutical self-sufficiency falls in line with the national priority of retaining foreign currency in the country. Empowering local pharma is a win-win for all parties involved because it gives citizens better access to the government (SPMC) approved high quality medicine for affordable prices while generating occupational opportunities for local youth. In order to achieve self-sustainability local industry would require FDIs which would in turn bring international technology and know-how to Sri Lanka paving the way for the country to emerge as a ‘pharma hub’ capitalising on the country’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean. The construction of three ‘pharma zones’ has already commenced in Anuradhapura, Hambantota and Millawa intending to attract such investments. The Millawa SPMC zone, largest of the three, is slated to house four state-of-the-art factories within it,” the release said.
According to NCPM President, Dr. Lohitha Samarawickrema up to 80-85 per cent of the local production catering to 15 per cent of the total demand is supplied by SPMC joint venture stakeholders. The stakeholders collectively manufacture over 300 varieties of drugs which are then quality-tested and distributed through the SPMC. He said the success of this public-private partnership could augur well for the country’s economy as well as the general wellbeing of citizens.
Given the strategic location of Sri Lanka, Dr. Samarawickrema added that Sri Lanka was being seriously considered to be developed as a hub for vaccine manufacturing with Asian and African markets in mind.
In that regard, a feasibility study is underway to establish a vaccine manufacturing enterprise as a joint venture between Sri Lanka’s Kelun Life Sciences and China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. The local partner of this venture is the first homegrown manufacturer of saline and is credited with propelling Sri Lanka to full self-sufficiency in same.
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