1.

0 Rationale
1.1 Background of the company Impressa Marketing Systems (Pvt) Ltd which was earlier known as Impressa International was founded by Mr. Kumara Nissanka (currently the Managing Director) and Late Mr. Mininil Amarasinghe in 1999. After the sudden death of Mr. Mininil Amarasinghe due to the tsunami disaster, Mr. Nissanka took over the company as the only director and the owner of the company. With the total staff being over 40 currently, the company is in a sound position and showing certain signs of improvement from the demand it has created for itself through the hospitals and pharmacies island wide. 1.2 Products and processes The companys main business is importing and distributing pharmaceutical surgical items to private hospitals and government hospitals through government tenders. The companys main customers are Durdans Hospitals LTD, Asiri Group, Nawaloka Hospital and Lanka Hospitals LTD other than its trusted pharmacies. The company has a wide range of crepe and ideal bandages from each and every size to cater any volume needed to its valued customers within the shortest possible time period. The companys main supplier is a German company very well named to its excellent quality products named Karl Otto Braun LTD.

Other than its main business, the company engages in a lubricant distribution named Motul which was originated in France. The lubricant distribution is mainly focused on all the service stations located in Colombo and suburbs. The company distributes the lubricants on behalf of its importer Charter House. Motul contains a wide product range from different volumes. Coolants, engine oils, greases and motor bike oils are some of the items distributed by the company under the brand name Motul.

1.3 Performance From its birth which took place in the year 1999, the company has achieved many milestones financial-wise and reputation-wise among its valued customers when comparing to its competitor companies in the similar scale. Each year the company shows a sales and revenue increment of

over 30% and most importantly the company has being able to stand tall during all financial crisis situations.

1.4 Issues and impacts of issues on performance The main issues the company is facing currently are listed below. Financial difficulties which arise due to non payment of cash for what the company has sold to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation. Internal leakage of tender quoting details to the hands of competitors Government rules and regulations on prescription drug use in the country. Prescription drug abuse which has led to negative reputation towards the company.

1.5 Problem Statement Prescription drug abuse is becoming one of the most important drug issues in the country currently. This is not the same as the abuse of other drugs and substances because prescription drugs are legitimately used to treat medical conditions. So the pharmaceutical company which imports and distributes such drugs such as cough syrups, painkillers and other sedatives arent aware of the fact that they are being used by drug abusers. Nevertheless ultimately the company will be sued when government rules and regulations comes into play for importing and distributing such drugs and it will directly impact on the good name of the organization.

2.0 Research Question

2.1 Issues Pharmaceutical drugs is a major contributor to drug abuse in Sri Lanka currently. Pharmaceutical companies engages in importing and distribution of drugs concentrates on only ways of increasing sales and maximizing their profits but they arent aware of the fact that they are indirectly contributing to the increase of drug abuse in the country. Even though in the short run they enjoy their profits from the rapid sales revenue, they will be facing a major conflict in the long run when government identifies the misuse of such drugs and enforce laws and regulations to restrict such pharmaceutical drugs. 2.2 Problem Questions What is prescription drug abuse and how it relates to the pharmaceutical industry? How does the government reacts on misuse of prescriptive drugs? How does pharmaceutical sales and its distribution contributes towards misuse of prescriptive drug abuse in the country? What are the conflicts the company comes across when rules and regulations being enforced on such products? 2.3 Hypothesis There is a positive co-relation between pharmaceutical sales and prescriptive drug use in Sri Lanka. 2.4 Variables Y = f(x1, x2, x3..) X1 = Pharmaceutical Sales X2 = Law enforcement X3 = Nature and extent of illicit drug use in the country X4 = Sociological and psychological factors

X5 = Distribution Network

3.0 Objectives
To find out what is prescription drug abuse and how it relates to the pharmaceutical industry. To find out how does the government reacts on misuse of prescriptive drugs. Discover how the pharmaceutical sales and its distribution contribute towards misuse of prescriptive drug abuse in the country. To find out the conflicts the company comes across when rules and regulations being enforced on such products.

4.0 Proposed Research Methodology

4.1 Conceptual Frame work Pharmaceutical Sales Law Enforcement Nature & Extent of illicit drug use Sociological & Psychological Factors Distribution Network Dependent Variable

Prescriptive Drug Abuse

Independent Variables

4.2 Instrumentation and Data collection method Data collection will be carried out as a survey when doing the research and questionnaires which comprise qualitative and quantitative question forms will add more consistency and reliability on the data presented by the researcher. Researcher will conduct several interviews as well to get further information from relevant parties to add more accuracy to the data presented in the research.

4.3 Sampling Stratified and random sampling method will be used to collect primary data relevant to the research.

4.4 Data collection & Analysis Both descriptive and inferential statistics will be used for data presentation and analysis in the research. Frequency counts, ranges, means, modes, median scores, and standard deviations will be described through descriptive analysis and inferential statistics will be used to make conclusions and predictions based on the descriptions of data through probability, population and sampling.

4.5 Limitations Financial data of the company can only be revealed up to a certain extent due to the rules of the organization. Time limitation will be highly putting pressure on the researcher to complete the research in due time. When conducting interview with the 3rd parties, the information might not be accurate since they will be defending their organization in the first place.

5.0 Research Plan

5.1 Summary of the report Chapter 01 Introduction Chapter 02 Literature Review Chapter 03 Research Methodology Chapter 04 Findings & Analysis Chapter 05 Recommendations

5.2 Time Plan ACTION PLAN Develop the proposal Finalizing LR Developing Questionnaire Designing Sample TIME 01ST of Jan 22nd of February

References and Bibliography

Jeromy Roberts, Prescription drug abuse, published in 2000 by Rosen Public Group, Inc. Rod Colvin, Prescription Drug AddictionThe Hidden Epidemic, Addicus Books, 2002, a Guide to Coping and Understanding. Drew Pinsky, M. D., When Painkillers Become Dangerous, 2004 by Hazelden Foundation (all texts excepts chapter 1) Cindy R. Mogil, Swallowing a Bitter Pill: How Prescription and Over-The-Counter Drug Abuse Is Ruining Lives - My Story, New Horizon Press, 2001. http://epaper.dailymirror.lk/epaper/viewer.aspx http://www.businesstoday.lk/article.php?article=2032 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka_National_Pharmaceuticals_Policy http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm220112.htm http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics