SLPMA celebrates 65 years of local pharmaceutical production

• Pledges to achieve 50% self-sufficiency in 2025, annual export earnings of $ 1 b by 2030

Navesta Pharmaceuticals Chairman and SLPMA President Sanjaya Jayaratne

Sri Lanka is celebrating 65 years of local pharmaceuticals production since the first manufacturing plant was opened in 1956, the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (SLPMA) announced

recently in a media release. 

Ten private sector local manufacturers of pharmaceutical bearing SLPMA membership currently manufacture and supply pharmaceuticals for the Ministry of Health under a Guaranteed Buy Back Scheme, with 24% of all medicines in outpatient departments (OPDs) of government hospitals now supplied by them; helping the country save $ 30 million annually in foreign exchange spent on imports.

Sri Lankan private sector local pharmaceutical manufacturers currently produce 88 essential drugs under the Guaranteed Buy Back Scheme (GBBA) introduced in 2014 by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Industries under the leadership of present Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, fulfilling over 15% of the local requirement for essential drugs. They also export pharmaceuticals worth $ 10 million annually. 

Members of the SLPMA are now targeting the completion of 50% of the local pharmaceutical requirement within the country by the year 2025. Local pharmaceutical manufacturers aim to produce over 300 essential drugs saving the country an estimated $ 100 million annually in foreign exchange, while also targeting annual export earnings of $ 100 million by that period and $ 1 billion by 2030. 

It is noteworthy that this buyback scheme is the first Private-Public Partnership (PPP) program established by the Ministry of Health, and the nation has already gained positive results through this partnership within a span of six years. The Guaranteed Buy Back Scheme also encouraged local pharmaceutical manufacturers to uplift their Research and Development process, thereby innovating new products consistently. 

The manufacturing facilities contributing to this scheme have all obtained the WHO Good Manufacturing Certificate issued by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), while some plants are in the process of being certified EU GMP – the European Union’s Good Manufacturing Practice certification ensuring access to the European market for Sri Lankan pharmaceuticals.

SLPMA President Sanjaya Jayaratne commented on this important milestone: “As local manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, we are proud to have been of service to the nation for 65 years, and are committed to ensure the availability of essential drugs, saving on foreign exchange. A self-sufficient local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is vital in this regard, and we are most thankful for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for initiating the concept of the Guaranteed Buy Back Scheme. The SLPMA will support the government in securing high quality medicines at a more affordable price, by investing approximately Rs. 20 billion, in state-of-the-art privately-owned manufacturing facilities, enhancing the economic value addition to the Sri Lankan economy.”

The association currently employs 3,000 individuals directly, and indirectly benefits over 20,000 persons in its supply chain. It will now focus on investing in capacity expansion, to enable growth for the local industry to meet its projected targets, and to support the uplifting of the economy. It is hoped that the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry will become the third largest foreign exchange earner between 2025 and 2030, in line with the Government’s drive to promote local manufacture.

“The State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation Prof. Channa Jayasumana is a keen advocate of locally-produced pharmaceuticals and we are especially grateful for his guidance and policy support to help us achieve the vistas of prosperity as envisioned by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” Jayaratne added.

The Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association leverages longstanding relationships with principals overseas when manufacturing generic drugs locally; acquiring vital technological transfer of pharmaceutical formulation and production standards, training for local employees, and quality assurance knowhow to produce outstanding pharmaceuticals. 

This advantage is manifested in the vast portfolio of dosage forms including tablets, capsules, liquids, dry powder suspensions, dry powder inhalation capsules, metered dose inhalers, nasal sprays, pellets for encapsulation, creams, ointments and dry powder injectables. 

Pellets for encapsulation, cephalexin capsules, cephalexin dry powder suspension in bottles, and metered dose dry powder capsules for inhalation are manufactured in exclusive plants by private sector local manufacturers of pharmaceuticals.