The proposal presented by the Minister of Health Mr. Keheliya Rambukwella to buy medical supplies from an Indian company that is not registered with the National Drug Regulatory Authority has been approved by the cabinet, and in connection with this, four of the main medical associations of the country have strongly protested.
It is said that all those organizations have sent their objection letters to the President separately.
The Secretary of Frontline Socialist Party, Mr. Pubudu Jagoda reported in a press conference about the readiness of the Health Minister to purchase medicines from an unregistered Indian company without proper procurement processes.
Mr. Pubudu Jagoda revealed a lot of controversial information about the minister’s visit to India and the payment of the bill for the luxury hotel room where the minister stayed during that visit by the relevant company.
Using Indian loan assistance, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella is preparing to purchase medicines and medical supplies from Savorite Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd and Kausikh Therapeutics (P) Ltd Indian companies.
It is reported that the relevant companies have been pressured to register with the National Drug Regulatory Authority.
Medicines or other medical supplies sent to the country by those companies cannot be cleared from customs unless they are registered with the Drug Regulatory Authority.
The four main medical associations that have expressed their opposition against this proposal of the minister are;
Sri Lanka Medical Association
Ceylon Medical College
Sri Lanka Paediatrics Association
Sri Lanka Association of Clinical Pharmacists
.
It is said that certain drugs and medical supplies ordered through Indian companies are in sufficient stock in the country and therefore there is no need to procure them as emergency purchases without proper tendering process.
