Srilanka, May 5 -- Three leading pharmaceutical associations in Sri Lanka have called on Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa to immediately halt the proposed government-to-government (G2G) pharmaceutical import initiative as it could jeopardise patient safety, cripple local manufacturing, and open doors to corruption.

In a letter, the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI), the National Chamber of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Sri Lanka (NCPMSL), and the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (SLPMA) expressed deep concern over the plan to import medicines directly from foreign governments.

The associations claimed the alleged medicine shortages used as justification for the move, were artificially create...