Srilanka, Oct. 3 -- Prices of some medicines may rise while others may decrease under an upcoming revision of medicine prices, National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said.

He told a press conference held at the NMRA to raise awareness about medicine price regulation that following the gazette notification issued last July, the NMRA is now fixing prices for every specific brand of medicine, rather than only setting maximum price limits.

He cited a children's deworming medicine costing Rs.30 that carries a 174% markup, adding that some companies make unfair profits and that the markup is significantly higher than in other Asian countries.

Maximum price limits were first imposed on 48 medicines in...