Price increase pertaining to 500 medicines

The Government Pharmacists' Association alleges that the prices of nearly 500 drugs have increased by 69 percent in two months.

President of the Association Ajith Tillekeratne said that this situation has arisen as a result of a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Health to increase the prices of 60 controlled drugs by 40%.

He said the government had increased the prices of more than 60 branded drugs, but the prices of over 500 brands of drugs had increased in the market by 29% in March and 40% in April.

Accordingly, he noted that the fact is that within two months the prices of over 500 drugs had increased by 69%, adding that this is a blatant violation of the Senaka Bibile drug policy.