By: Staff Writer
March 29, Colombo (LNW): In a startling revelation before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), it was disclosed that a private company named ‘Savorite’ received Waiver of Registration (WoR) certificates in 2022 to import 38 types of medicines without undergoing evaluation by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). The matter has raised serious concerns about regulatory oversight and accountability within the healthcare sector.
The former Secretary to the Ministry of Health informed the committee that the then Minister of Health had directed officials to select ‘Savorite’ for importing these medicines under this arrangement. This issue came to light during a COPE session held on Wednesday (March 26), chaired by Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera. The session focused on reviewing Auditor General’s reports for 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as evaluating the NMRA’s current performance, according to a statement from the Department of Communication of Parliament.
The committee chair highlighted that on December 30, 2022, the NMRA issued WoR certificates to ‘Savorite’ based on unsolicited proposals without proper evaluation. He emphasized that the NMRA’s primary role is to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines, and this responsibility cannot be delegated to the Medical Supplies Sector.
Former NMRA Board members stated that while medicine imports through special pathways require prior approval, they could not authorize such imports without a thorough evaluation. They asserted that they were not accountable for this decision, given the absence of proper assessment procedures.
During the deliberations, it was further revealed that the former Minister of Health had ordered the selection of ‘Savorite’ to import medicines that were in short supply for a three-month period. The committee also examined a Cabinet Memorandum submitted by the former minister on September 26, 2022. The chair questioned health ministry officials about the memorandum’s claim that a significant number of essential medicines would be depleted within three weeks.
Officials responded that the information was drawn from an existing database. However, the committee chair deemed it unacceptable that such a critical shortage could arise simultaneously, accusing responsible officials of negligence. The Auditor General added that medicines had been imported in advance under the pretext of imminent shortages, further complicating the situation.
In response, the committee chair directed officials to submit a comprehensive report detailing the individuals involved in drafting the Cabinet Memorandum. He also announced that COPE would compile a full report on the matter for submission to Parliament, ensuring swift action to address the apparent regulatory lapses.
