State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation - Pharmaceutical Production

The State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) was established in 1987, and is founded on a commitment to the manufacture of quality, effective and safe, essential medicinal drugs. These include tablets, capsules and dry powders at affordable prices.

The objective of establishing this organization was to supply locally manufactured essential drugs to the people of Sri Lanka at affordable prices, while controlling the importing of such drugs.

LARGE SCALE TABLET PRODUCTION

The pharmaceuticals manufacturing facility of the SPMC is equipped with Japanese and German machines. The manufacturing facility has an exceptionally clean atmosphere, and strictly adheres to the requirements of the current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) set by the World Health Organization (WHO). All SPMC products are manufactured according to the US Pharmacopoeia (USP) and British Pharmacopoeia (BP) standards.

SPMC is proud to say that the production capacity of the existing equipment is the biggest facility in Sri Lanka. This facility was installed with a capacity of 550 million tablets/capsules per year. At present SPMC produces around 1,100 million tablets and capsules a year.

In 2007, SPMC completed 20 years of commercial production of essential medicinal drugs for the health care of the Sri Lanka population. The company is comprised of skilled workers dedicated to the mass production of safe drugs, to the relevant standards. The SPMC product range consists of over 50 tablet, capsule and oral suspension products. SPMC is the only state sector corporation engaged in manufacturing pharmaceuticals in Sri Lanka.

SPMC products are well accepted and recognized by doctors, pharmacists and other professionals in the health sector. The company is recognised as a manufacturer of quality pharmaceuticals products. SPMC is enjoying rapid development within its markets as a result of this industry recognition.

PHARMACEUTICALS FOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS

The drugs manufactured in the SPMC facility are distributed to the people through the government hospitals under the direction of Ministry of Health and to the private market through the island wide distribution channel of SPMC and through the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

An expansion programme has been proposed to expand the capacity of the pharmaceuticals manufacturing facility in order to provide better healthcare to the public.

The programme proposes the expansion of the manufacturing facility from a capacity of 1,100m to 4,000m through the introducing of new machines. This will increase supply of pharmaceuticals to the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) of the Health Ministry as well as to the SPC and the direct sales at SPMC.

GENERIC PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTION

As a corporate body in a developing country, engaged in the production of essential generic pharmaceuticals, SPMC's very origination and existence is encompassed, enmeshed and integrated with the basic notion of social responsibility

In this regard the SPMC, by nature of its activity, carries a heavy social responsibility and performs a commendable service to society. The provision of safe, quality and effective drugs at affordable prices to the national healthcare system and the general public is the valuable challenge undertaken by the corporation.