HEALTHCARE SECTOR
Compiled by Tamara Rebeira
RESHAPING PHARMA’S ROLE
Mylvaganam Prathaban explores avenues to transform our healthcare system
Q: How do you view the prevailing healthcare landscape in Sri Lanka?
A: It’s a matter of grave concern that our healthcare system is mired in so much controversy and debate. Solving the healthcare crisis must take precedence over all other issues if the country is to achieve sustainability.
As the President of the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI), I can only comment on matters pertaining to the pharma industry. State healthcare authorities must closely cooperate with the industry, which is a major stakeholder in this system.
In doing so, aspirations should always be geared towards patients’ wellbeing since industry growth can only be achieved by catering to their needs.
Q: And how can local healthcare organisations, government agencies and research institutions enhance the system?
A: No single stakeholder working alone can accomplish this task. All stakeholders must work unitedly with a patient-centric ambition. Government regulators formulate necessary guidelines and should do so in concurrence with the pharmaceutical industry.
The institutions governing the import of finished medicines and raw materials for manufacture should streamline these processes – i.e. to facilitate the import and local manufacture of pharmaceuticals.
Meanwhile, research institutes must work with hospitals to ensure that their research findings are more patient oriented.
State procurement procedures should be transparent and equitable, with payments to suppliers being prompt and continuous. Additionally, local manufacturers must be given priority in the registration process by being granted buyback guarantees. This should be a statewide, multipronged and cohesive approach.
Q: What measures can be introduced to make pharmaceutical products accessible and affordable?
A: This is simple – the country needs a transparent, equitable and exchange rate sensitive pricing mechanism for pharmaceuticals.
The current system of price controls without an acceptable mechanism is detrimental not only to the industry but also patients as it can result in reputed multinational manufacturers deserting our market.
It’s imperative that all stakeholders contribute ideas to develop a pricing mechanism that will make medicines more affordable, foster competition to drive prices down further, eliminate the shortage of drugs and ensure quality.
As the state regulator, the onus is on the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to coalesce all stakeholder ideas and contributions, and establish such a mechanism.
Q: In your assessment, what steps should be taken to ensure the quality and safety of pharma products, in accordance with local regulations and international standards?
A: This is another key issue facing the industry today.
It’s disappointing to note that the country doesn’t have an accredited quality assurance laboratory – one where the quality of pharmaceuticals can be tested diligently. The antiquated laboratory that we have can neither cope with the workload nor carry out the sophisticated tests that are needed.
Therefore, registration of medicines is done purely on the assessment of papers submitted by manufacturers. This paves the way for the registration of low quality products.
Therefore, it’s imperative that an accredited analytical laboratory of international standard be set up in Sri Lanka to test pharmaceuticals upon registration and carry out random market sample testing.
Our member companies are willing to give their utmost to help the state set up such a laboratory as we consider this to be one of the foremost requirements for a healthy nation.
Another major requirement is the establishment of a practical online platform at the NMRA where submissions for registrations and renewals can be streamlined, to minimise delays and weed out corruption. This will go a long way in making the registration process transparent and efficient.
Q: What steps can be taken to ensure an efficient and reliable distribution and supply chain of pharmaceutical products?
A: We can depend on our multitude of renowned multinational manufacturers. They have elevated the manufacturing, transportation and storage of pharmaceuticals to a different level.
The automation of functions, constant monitoring of cold chain maintenance, accredited warehouse and transport facilities – with temperature and humidity control – and QR coding of each item to facilitate tracking are some of the innovations that have been introduced over time, which we’re only beginning to implement locally.
Q: Given the evolving healthcare needs and technological advancements, how should the pharma industry adapt its business strategies?
A: The best adaptation would be evolving a system of friendly competition instead of cutthroat policies. Companies must harness each other’s strengths so that everyone adopts the same quality procedures and ethical principles.
Research findings should be treated as common knowledge, and compliance and ‘pharmacovigilance’ activities must be given due recognition. Whatever strategies we implement, the end result should benefit patients as their health is our paramount responsibility.
