COLOMBO, Nov. 17 -- Sri Lanka's National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has introduced maximum retail prices (MRP) for 350 essential drugs, including widely used medications for blood pressure, epilepsy, worm treatment, and even certain cancer therapies, in a move officials say is aimed at improving affordability and ensuring proper treatment adherence.

The price controls take effect immediately, NMRA officials announced on Monday (17).

Chairman of NMRA, Dr Ananda Wijewickrema, said high medicine prices have led many patients to underuse or ration their prescribed medications, resulting in poor health outcomes.

"Some patients don't follow the prescribed dosage because the drugs are expensive. For example, if a medicine is prescr...