COLOMBO — The Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights has issued a blistering statement accusing health authorities of failing to collect a single cent in fines from pharmaceutical companies responsible for importing substandard eye medicines and other critical drugs into Sri Lanka.
Core Allegations of the Union Union Chairman, Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, stated that despite numerous incidents involving tainted or poor-quality eye drops that have compromised patient safety, there has been zero financial accountability for the importers involved.
- Lack of Enforcement: The union claims that while legal frameworks exist to penalise these companies, the current administration has failed to follow through on collecting mandated fines.
- A History of Accountability: Dr. Sanjeewa pointed out that during the tenure of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, the Ministry had successfully initiated legal action through the Attorney General and recovered fines in similar cases.
- Regulatory Silence: The union specifically criticised the Medicines Regulatory Authority for its perceived failure to maintain oversight and establish a standardised laboratory to verify drug quality.
Impact on Public Health
The failure to penalise these companies is not just a financial issue but a grave public health concern. The union highlighted several critical risks:
- Patient Risks: Substandard eye medicines can lead to severe irritation, permanent vision damage, or infections that are difficult to treat.
- Financial Burden: Dr. Sanjeewa warned that the general public is already facing unbearable costs for essential medicines. The lack of enforcement allows unregulated pharmacies to sell drugs at prices higher than gazetted rates, further exploiting patients.
- Systemic Corruption: The union has previously raised concerns over alleged corruption and irregularities within pharmaceutical institutions, including the State Pharmaceutical Corporation.
Demands for Action
The Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the following:
- Financial Recovery: The immediate collection of fines from identified importers of substandard medicines.
- Standardisation: The establishment of a fully functional, high-standard laboratory to ensure no medicine reaches the public without proper quality assurance.
- Public Transparency: Providing clear, public information regarding the safety of current vaccine batches and medical supplies after recent controversies involving expired doses.
The union warned that continued silence and a lack of regulatory supervision could lead to a catastrophic collapse of trust in the nation’s healthcare system.
