Suspension of Indian drug part of cover-up by NMRA: Academy of Health Professionals

President, Academy of Health Professionals, Ravi Kumudesh, yesterday (22), alleged that the National Medicines Regulatory Authority's (NMRA) decision to suspend several batches of Ondansetron Injection USP 8 mg/4 mL (Batch Nos: OD24021E, OD25009E, OD25024E, OD25023E), following suspicions of patient complications, and a few reported deaths, seemed to be a bid to cover-up the latest public health sector crisis. Kumudesh said so responding to The Island queries.

- BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

Kumudesh pointed out that the Chief Executive Officer of the NMRA, and other responsible officials of the Ministry of Health, were on record as having said that the alleged bacterial contamination in the medicine in question was based on laboratory test results generated at the Microbiology Laboratory of the National Hospital, Kandy.

He, however, emphasised that the Kandy facility lacked legally mandated facilities, validated systems, or regulatory accreditation required to conduct pharmaceutical sterility testing in accordance with internationally accepted regulatory standards.

"The Academy of Health Professionals is aware that the Microbiology Laboratory of the National Hospital, Kandy, does not possess the required facilities," Kumudesh said, urging the government to come clean in this matter.

Kumudesh said the regulatory action taken by the political authority was aimed at deceiving the public, and the Academy of Health Professionals had raised the issues with Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Health Secretary Jasinghe, NMRA Dr. Anil head Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama and Director General Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena.