Due to the shortage of drugs the Health Ministry has called for tenders for emergency purchase of drugs.
Pharmaceutical companies have taken advantage of this situation and hiked the drug prices by 34,000 times the actual cost, State Pharmaceutical Corporation Chairman Consultant Dr. Prasanna Gunasena had told the 'Aruna' newspaper.
According to him, the pharmaceutical companies had submitted tenders for the supply of the drug Atropine for Rs. 850 while the cost is a mere Rs. 2.50.
In addition, the drug - Fluconazole has been increased by 27,916 times its actual value of 24 cents to Rs. 67, while the drug Aspirin has been hiked by 3,300 times its actual value of 50 cents to Rs. 16.50.
Similarly, the Rs. 74 Meropenem has been hiked by 314 % to Rs. 211, Anastrozole which costs Rs. 10 is now sold at Rs. 31 which is an increase of 310%.
According to the SPC Chairman, these pharmaceutical companies are increasing their prices to such an extent with the aim of recovering the arrears for the drugs supplied during the previous government.
(Source : Aruna)