182 Missing Meds, 2 Billion Rupee Question: Fabrication of Drug Shortage Led to Misappropriation of Funds

by Zulfick Farzan 16-02-2024 | 8:43 AM

COLOMBO (News 1st); During today's hearing of the case related to the procurement and distribution of substandard immunoglobulin within the Sri Lankan hospital system, Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama informed the court that funds used for the purchase originated from the Ministry of Health budget.

While the six previously remanded suspects appeared in court today, former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was not produced in court.

Prison officials cited medical reasons for the former minister's non-appearance.

During today's court hearing, the Senior Deputy Solicitor General presented findings from the investigation, suggesting potential irregularities in the former Health Minister's actions regarding drug procurement.

Specifically, the prosecution alleged that Rambukwella misrepresented the drug shortage situation to trigger emergency procurement procedures.

The Senior Deputy Solicitor General further noted that Rambukwella had presented a document to the Cabinet on September 26, 2022.

This document reportedly indicated a shortage of 182 medicines and raised potential concerns about a possible health crisis within two weeks.

She further highlighted inconsistencies in the document, noting that while it lists a shortage of 182 medicines, no accompanying documentation detailing the specific medications was found.

The Senior Deputy Solicitor General presented evidence suggesting that the sixth suspect, former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Shri Chandra Gupta, initiated an emergency procurement for 285 medications on the day following the document referencing a potential medicine shortage was submitted.

She noted that of the 285 medications, only 229 were procured.

The Senior Deputy Solicitor General alleged that the investigation suggests potential misappropriation of public funds amounting to two billion rupees, based on the alleged fabrication of a drug shortage to trigger emergency procurement.