The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health
2026-02-17
Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni outlined two mechanisms the Ministry has established to regulate medicine and surgical device costs. First, a legal framework has been put in place to impose ceiling prices based on CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) values, from which maximum retail prices are determined. Second, for high-cost devices, a named-patient prescription system is in operation, whereby a specialist's confirmation triggers procurement through the Medical Supplies Division, with the device channelled directly to the relevant clinic or ward in the patient's name.
We have set up the legal framework to impose ceiling prices on medicines and surgical devices. Based on the CIF value, we fix a maximum retail price.
Additionally, for high-cost devices, we operate a named-patient prescription mechanism: upon a specialist’s confirmation, we procure the required device through the Medical Supplies Division in the patient’s name and channel it to the clinic/ward. This process is ongoing.