The construction of a warehouse facility at the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation, Ratmalana commenced yesterday (February 07). It was launched under the patronage of the Minister of Health, Rajitha Senaratna. A pharmaceuticals bottling unit was also opened during the occasion.
Rajitha Senaratna addressing the crowd noted that the biggest business in the world is the arms business, followed by the pharmaceuticals business. He said that for over 45 years no government was able to implement a fair price for pharmaceuticals and his ministry was able to achieve the first step in providing pharmaceuticals at a fair price.
He stressed that initially, the ministry provided 48 medicines at low prices and the price of 25 more medicines were reduced. He added that in the future he intends to provide the same benefits to the public for 27 more drugs.
He said that by the end of 2019 that there will be ten more manufacturing facilities which will supply 80% of the required drugs. He finally noted that the annual local pharmaceutical production of 2018 led to a saving of Rs 6.6 billion to the government.
