Given the unprecedented pandemic and economic crisis, Sri Lanka’s health sector has faced challenges in securing an adequate supply of pharmaceuticals. The situation has been exacerbated by shifts towards protectionist trade policies post-2019, resulting in increased restrictions on imports, particularly in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. Moreover, vaccine protectionism by developed countries has limited Sri Lanka’s access to affordable vaccines.
To address these challenges, there’s an emerging incentive to explore regional cooperation for manufacturing vaccines and pharmaceuticals domestically. However, it’s crucial for Sri Lanka to strategically join value chains based on its comparative advantages to avoid inefficiencies in domestic production.
In such a context, this study aims to develop a research paper on trade policy and related challenges for Sri Lanka, and possible options for addressing them to ensure more affordable and equitable access to essential medical products, within the broader context of strengthening resilience and preparedness for future health emergencies.
