June 23, Colombo (LNW): Amid growing public outrage over the distribution of substandard medicines in state hospitals, the Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights has urged the government to launch a comprehensive investigation into all those implicated in the unfolding pharmaceutical controversy, which dates back to the tenure of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
Dr Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the alliance, stressed that accountability must extend far beyond political figures. He called for scrutiny of a broad spectrum of officials who allegedly played a role in facilitating the supply and approval of unsafe medical products.
Amongst those named were individuals linked to the national blood bank, who are suspected of having diverted blood for use in the production of inferior pharmaceuticals. Senior figures at the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), including its former chairpersons, have also come under suspicion for having approved dubious procurements despite irregularities in the documentation.
Dr Sanjeewa has also urged the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to widen its probe to include regulatory officials at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). He alleged that the authority greenlit medications without adequate testing, further undermining public confidence in the country’s health safeguards.
Additionally, he criticised the Director General of Health Services for repeatedly failing to attend key decision-making meetings, thereby allowing questionable imports to proceed unchecked.
The implications of this scandal are deeply troubling. According to revelations made in court by the Attorney General, some of the drugs distributed to patients contained dangerous levels of bacteria and contaminated saline—posing a direct threat to patient safety.
The AG further clarified that the responsibility for oversight lies squarely with health ministry officials and not with his office.
Concerns have also surfaced over the Health Ministry’s failure to issue certificates confirming that imported medicines met the standards of the World Health Organisation (WHO), casting doubt over the quality of pharmaceuticals administered in public hospitals across the country.
In a move to restore integrity to the system, Dr Sanjeewa offered his support for establishing a domestic drug testing laboratory accredited by the WHO. He appealed to the President to intervene directly, warning that unless immediate corrective measures are taken, patients with critical conditions such as cancer, infections, and diabetes remain at grave risk due to compromised treatment.
“The collapse of the mandatory quality assurance process under the NMRA Act has put countless lives in jeopardy,” Dr Sanjeewa stated. “This is not merely an issue of financial malpractice—it is a humanitarian crisis. Had the appropriate controls been in place, this dangerous lapse would never have occurred. The public deserves justice, transparency, and a healthcare system they can trust.”
