Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health has banned medical sales reps from visiting doctors in public hospitals. Sales reps were previously permitted to arrange visits with doctors at 12-2pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The Ban was enforced as the ministry said large numbers of sales reps were routinely interrupting doctors during work hours, often increasing patient waiting times. The small size of the Sri Lankan pharmaceutical market (at US$444mn in 2011) and the subsequently restricted commercial opportunities for innovative drug companies mean the ban on sales representatives will not be of much worry to drug companies selling their products in the country.

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