The Pharmaceutical production supply and Regulation Ministry has given top priority for enhancing local drugs production, on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The President has drawn the attention of the relevant authorities that it was vital for the national economy to stop the import of Pharmaceuticals worth around Rs. 130 - 140 billion annually.
In this context the according to the State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana the initial stage of the establishment of Hambantota and Anuradhapura Oyamaduwa, Pharmaceutical manufacturing zones was being finalized taking into consideration the prevailing covid-19 pandemic situation. “It has been planned to establish the Anuradhapura district Pharmaceutical manufacturing zone in Oyamaduwa and the proposal was tabled by the Ministry of Health to implement the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in the proposed drugs manufacture zone, as a strategic project under our state ministry recently.
The aim of establishing large scale drugs manufacturing zones is to provide high quality Pharmaceuticals at the most possible low price for the people by manufacturing all Pharmaceuticals adhering to the accepted international standards, the State Minister emphasized. Jayasumana said further that a committee of experts has selected around 30 investors by inviting project proposals concerning drugs production from qualified local investors who are interested in the program. He said that the investors were required to invest around Rs 30,000 million in the project. Plots of land would be offered for them on the basis of a 35 years leasing period with all necessary main Infrastructural facilities being made available. The state minister stated further that the Pharmaceutical industry was one of the major areas that would be developed in terms of the President’s ‘’vistas of prosperity’’ national development agenda. Under this programme joint - ventures with the private sector including local pharmaceutical producers and foreign investors would be encouraged prof. Channa Jayasumana stressed.
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