The All Ceylon Medical Officers Association has revealed that private pharmaceutical manufacturing companies have started manufacturing medicines using the name and logo of the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC).
Dr. Jayantha Bandara, president of the association, said that although there are enough men and resources available in the corporation to engage in pharmaceutical production, permission has been given to private manufacturing companies to engage in the production of pharmaceuticals, and the corporation would purchase them at exorbitant prices.
He also pointed out that a ready market has been created for the manufacturing companies as the drugs produced by the private companies are procured by the corporation. I
It has also been reported that companies have agreed to give a pittance of 6 per cent commission to the corporation for using the name and logo of the corporation while selling the drugs they produce to the corporation and earning a very high profit.
Dr. Bandara said that it has been confirmed from unofficial sources that the firms manufacturing these drugs belong to a strongman in the SLPP.
