Ministry of Health decides to make emergency purchases only with registered companies

Colombo News 1st: The Ministry of Health has decided to make emergency purchases of medicines only from importers registered under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

The decision was reached considering the prevailing issues surrounding Sri Lanka's health sector and substandard medicines and only companies registered under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority are allowed to import medicines into Sri Lanka.

The Ministry of Health said that a limited number of companies are currently registered under the NMRA.

However, emergency purchases can be made under an established 
tender procedure.

Meanwhile, the bupivacaine anaesthetic drug has been temporarily withdrawn from use.

Four batches of the ceftriaxone and two batches of the propofol were also withdrawn from use.