Health Ministry admits glass particles being found in ‘Meropenem’ drug

13 February 2024 09:17 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 4 Bookmark

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Colombo, Feb 13 (Daily Mirror) - The Health Ministry has initiated an investigation following allegations made by health trade unions regarding the haphazard storage of drug consignments at Customs terminals in Welisara, Wattala, and Kelaniya.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Director General (Medical Services) Dr. G. Wijesuriya admitted that glass particles had also been found inside the vials of the antibiotic named ‘Meropenem’ stored within these terminals.

According to the reports, these consignments have been placed for over four months violating the proper standards of storage.

The health ministry is looking into the further details of the importer of the Meropenem drug.

Meanwhile, Dr Wijesuriya highlighted the dearth of human capital in the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) which was under the fire following the allegations regarding the import of the substandard immunoglobulin drug.

According to the health ministry, four MSD officials including the Director are currently in remand custody while several others have resigned.

The concern is being addressed as it could have led to the delay in releasing the said consignment of drugs.

Comments - 4

Ram Tuesday, 13 February 2024 10:39 AM

Drugs storage must be handled by a qualified team. When the responsibility is given to staff members who do not know anything about drugs storage these things happen

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A KR Supporter Tuesday, 13 February 2024 11:37 AM

There had been substandard drugs, bogus drugs (e.g. coloured water), and glass particles in antibiotics e.g. 'Meropenem'. Yet a group of 113 MPs which included 3 doctors voted to keep Keheliya Rambukwella as Minister of Health. These drugs should be set aside to administer to this group of 113 MPs.

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Karalasingam Sivalingam Tuesday, 13 February 2024 12:50 PM

Atleast frauds, inefficiency, callalous of government servants are being brought to public awareness and this kind of glass pieces in vials first time heard, there were instances of some dubious suppliers/manufacturers stuffing saw dust into Tetracycline vials, when pursued to track the supplier, the company had wound up and vanished.

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Tuan Bahardeen Tuesday, 13 February 2024 05:18 PM

Now it seems that one by one bogus and fraud medicines that imported under the pretext of urgent requirements are surfacing. This case is a tip of an iceberg! Huge scandals to be uncovered which will eventually run for billions of rupees!

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