The National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Director Board has ignored recommendations made by the specialists’ consultant committee and authorised the import of medicines which the Ministry of Health had requested, Senior Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama alleged.
Speaking during a local TV talk show, Dr. Wijewickrama said that the Specialist Consultant Committee has on certain occasions refused to grant approval to procure certain types of medicine.
He claimed that, however, the NMRA Director Board has surpassed the recommendations of the committee and provided approval to procure some unregistered medication.
“The issue at hand is that the NMRA Board is procuring medication that has not been approved by the Specialist Consultant Committee,” he said.
Dr. Wijewickrama added that when inquired in this regard, the NMRA Director General had revealed that the NMRA was bound to approve the procurement of certain medicines if they have been approved by the Health Ministry.
The procurement of substandard medication has been brought to the limelight following the alleged deaths of several individuals as a result of the administration of the said medications.
Several of the deaths in the recent past have been reported at state hospitals in Sri Lanka after which the medication in question has been withdrawn by the Health Ministry. (NewsWire)