A special discussion was held under the patronage of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa to focus on expanding and strengthening mechanisms for maintaining drug quality standards.
According to the Ministry of Health, the discussion mainly addressed ways to conduct drug quality testing in a more systematic and organised manner as part of broader efforts to improve overall drug quality assurance.
The meeting was attended by the Director General of Health Services, the Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as other relevant representatives.
Attention was also given to ensuring effective coordination among institutions involved in laboratory-based drug quality testing, increasing the volume of testing, and addressing issues that require monitoring by the NMRA in relation to drug quality testing reports.
During the discussion, Minister Jayatissa noted that certain limitations have been identified in relying solely on the NMRA’s quality testing laboratory, highlighting the need to expand these activities into a more formal and comprehensive programme in the future.
He further stated that, as such an expanded programme may not be implemented in the immediate future, the possibility of conducting drug quality testing through other government institutions should be explored.
The Minister also emphasised that priority should be given to drugs identified as problematic under this programme in order to prevent disruptions to the drug supply process.
