Health Minister calls for probe on Indian drugs

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has said allegations with regard to medicines will be investigated, and if any discrepancies are identified, action will be taken against those responsible. 

The minister was responding to allegations that Indian-manufactured drugs resulted in deaths and vision impairment in Sri Lanka. 

News 1st came across two people who had experienced complication after undergoing cataract surgery, where they were given an Indian-manufactured drug.

A spokesperson for the Nuwara Eliya District Hospital told News 1st that 18 patients who were administered the medicine had developed complications. 

The spokesperson said that these patients are being treated by the Kandy and Colombo General Hospitals, and the vision levels differ at the moment. 

In recent days, News 1st reported on the deaths of two women who underwent cesarean and hernia surgery, at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital.

It was revealed that they developed complications when they were given the Indian-manufactured anaesthetic Bupivacaine.

Sri Lanka's Health Minister commenting on the allegations noted that he did not import the medicines, and an investigation will be carried out.

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority plays a leading role in protecting and improving public health, and they responded to the developments recently.

The Indian-manufactured anaesthetic was imported to Sri Lanka via the emergency purchasing provisions, while the medication provided following eye surgery was imported with a registration.

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority plays a leading role in protecting and improving public health by ensuring medicinal products available in the country meet applicable standards of safety, quality, and efficacy. 

However, when the NMRA is facing such a devastating situation, the Health Minister works tirelessly within the Cabinet-appointed subcommittee that was appointed to draft laws on media regulation.

When questions were continuously posed on medicines, the minister also commented on the need to regulate the media.