The decision taken by Health Minister Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella to slash the prices of 60 essential medicinal drugs would come as a great relief to those dependent on their daily drug dosages for survival.
A gazette to this effect was issued on June 26 making all importers, manufacturers of medicinal drugs and pharmacies conform to the new drug prices. Medicines have today become a luxury that those with average incomes can barely afford. The plight of daily wage earners, senior citizens and retirees who survive on their pensions and bank interests from retirement benefit deposits can only be imagined.
The high cost of drugs had even made some to ration their prescribed dosages, so that they could delay their next visit to the pharmacy while others had altogether stopped taking their prescribed drugs, at great risk to themselves. One could skip a regular meal and still survive but it is dangerous to stop taking drugs as prescribed. Taking their drugs haltingly had led to other complications for most, compelling them to seek additional remedies to overcome them, adding to the expenses. The drop in drug prices would now offer at least a semblance of relief to these segments.
The Minister must ensure that drugs listed are sold at the new reduced prices, because in this country what goes up never comes down, contrary to the laws of physics. This is true with all goods and items that are sold in the market. The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) or another such body should be made to check all pharmacies to make sure the drugs are not overpriced.
The steep cost of drugs is only one problem affecting the health sector. Though the Minister has to be commended for offering some relief in this manner by slashing the price of drugs, there are other, even more serious issues that need to be addressed urgently. For instance, the acute shortage of doctors and medical professionals, especially specialists, has grown to life threatening proportions. Moreover, according to the GMOA spokesman, more doctors and specialists are planning to leave the country. Worse, doctors who had gone abroad for specialized training have opted to stay back, turning their back on their Motherland which provided them with free education and made them attain their present status.
Strict measures should be adopted against those who desert the country after taking the maximum benefits the country has to offer such as free education and State sponsored scholarships. Doctors and other professionals who are sent abroad at State cost to further their education but refuse to return should be made to pay back all that was spent on their behalf to the taxpayer, who after all had to foot their bill.
Their assets should be confiscated or their bank accounts seized. The Government has to spend Rs. 500,000 to turn out a single graduate and in the case of a medical student this obviously is far more. So, it is only fair that they give the country something in return. The Minister must think of some measures to stem the flight of doctors and medical professionals. Perhaps, the solution lies in producing more doctors by setting up private medical colleges.
The GMOA which bemoans the flight of doctors from the country is partly to be blamed for the crisis. It together with other trade unions vehemently protested against the establishment of SAITM which held back the country from producing more doctors. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has now proposed to increase the intake to the medical college as a means of producing more doctors which presently has a shortfall by as much as 4,000. Things can only get worse if the number of doctors seeking greener pastures abroad continue to grow.
There is no doubt that the economic crisis is one of the reasons for the flight of professionals from the country. Protests, agitations and the general unrest that was witnessed recently plus the shortages too may have had its effect. Of course, there should be a conducive climate in the country if professionals are to be retained. Former President Maithripala Sirisena once invited all our professionals in the various fields who are abroad to return to the country and offer their services to the Motherland, promising them all incentives. It is not known how many responded to his call. But from the look of things not much heed had been made to the invitation.
The political unrest and uncertainty too is not the ideal backdrop in which the professionals can be retained. The Opposition too has a huge role to play in ensuring political stability by cooperating with the Government on crucial matters especially at a time like this when rebuilding the economy should take precedence over everything else.
Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) who plan to rule the country someday will not want to take over an economy that is in shambles. Scoring political points at this stage should not be the primary focus. It is only by working together that the country can be put back on its feet.
Add new comment