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Written by Staff Writer
COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association alleges that an attempt is being made to procure multiple medicines from India, without obtaining clearance from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
The MCPA wants the President to call for a special investigation into the matter.
Why is Sri Lanka opting to an emergency purchase of medicines?
Due to the foreign exchange crisis the government is facing an issue in importing medicines to the country by following the proper procurement process, and to avoid any shortage.
As a solution to the crisis, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on the 25th of October produced a cabinet memorandum to the cabinet of ministers for the emergency purchasing of medicines.
It noted that Savorite Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd. located in Gujarat, India had agreed to provide a three month supply of medicines to Sri Lanka within 45 days.
Accordingly, plans were drawn to import medical supplies approved by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation using the remaining funds from the Indian Line of Credit, and other funds available to the country.
The cabinet memorandum had sought permission to allow Savorite Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd. and other selected suppliers to deliver medicine to Sri Lanka.
In the meantime, the Health Minister had produced another cabinet memorandum to procure medicines from Kaushik Pharmaceuticals, another company based in India.
What is the Minister saying about these allegations?
On the 22nd of December the Minister tweeted that he is in India with the CEO of the NMRA.
He said that no state funding was used for this venture, as he funded his own travel whilst the NMRA was independently funded, & as such, added no burden to the state.
The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association had addressed a letter to the President to intervene into this matter.
They call on the President to conduct an investigation on the failure by authorities to inspect the quality of locally produced medicines before they are released to the market, and the attempt being made to procure Indian medicines without the approval of the NMRA.
It claims that the President and the Ministry were misled by the Minister.
The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association call on the immediate intervention of the President to control this situation, and urge to immediately remove the Health Minister and Health Secretary, paving the way for a new health administration.
Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialists Party Pubudu Jagoda speaking to reporters said that in 2019 the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation had blacklisted Kaushik Pharmaceuticals because their products lack the expected the quality.
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