Over 70 medicines fail quality tests in 2023, majority from India

14 August 2023 09:17 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 29 Bookmark

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A total of 73 drugs have failed quality tests so far in 2023, according to the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry.

Of the drugs that had failed quality tests, 45 were manufactured in India, while 17 drugs were locally produced and the others had originated from countries like Pakistan, Japan Bangladesh etc.

Among the drugs identified as having failed the quality tests, some have been withdrawn, withheld or discontinued.

Besides, a total of 35 batches of Flucloxacillin Cap have been withdrawn in May, recording the highest so far since 2017, in terms of the number of batches. The particular drug has been manufactured by the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation in Ratmalana.

According to the Health Ministry, there have been a total of 585 cases of quality failures since 2017. The highest number of such cases numbering 96 were reported in 2019, while 86 drugs had failed quality tests in 2022. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

Comments - 29

Ama Monday, 14 August 2023 09:29 AM

The government should make a formal complaint to WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO). If Govt hesitates then the interpretation is that subject minister had taken .........

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Sokrates Monday, 14 August 2023 09:40 AM

Many of these poor-quality, sometimes even dangerous medicines from India are counterfeit and are not manufactured in the factories of the pharmaceutical companies. They are made by criminals in small backyard factories. These drugs are bought by corrupt wholesalers and officials and sold as originals in other countries. Even Western countries are affected by this drug mafia.

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Jeyasuriya Monday, 14 August 2023 09:49 AM

Different Indian medicines had killed scores of African children and this news was reported around the world, that should have rung the alarm bell about the potential dangers of other Indian medicines, yet Sri Lanka kept purchasing the Indian medicines and now we are seeing the consequences .It is the duty of the Attorney General to order a police probe into the whole affair but he is a very weak guy unlike the previous AG.

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Robin Banks Monday, 14 August 2023 09:57 AM

What are you going to do about it Mr President? Turn a blind eye to the pain and suffering of the people to protect a criminal in your ministry ? Your actions are under scrutiny Mr President and if you choose to look the other way you are equally guilty of murder.

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This is reality Monday, 14 August 2023 10:01 AM

No surprises! Simply await a cheeky response from the Minister. That will sum it up.

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Ranjan Monday, 14 August 2023 10:06 AM

When Modi visited America, he boasted that India was the “ pharmacy to the world “ but in reality India is the “ Dr Death “ to the world.

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Dr. Quacks Monday, 14 August 2023 10:34 AM

Obviously, thanks to Dr. Rambukwella we got these drugs. Sri Lanka has over 22.0 million people. So what if a couple of millions die? So long as our Minister get millions of commissions?

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ravin Monday, 14 August 2023 10:44 AM

Like to hear your comments keheliya. We can recollect your comments but still we would like to hear you more.

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Lal Piyal Mendis Monday, 14 August 2023 11:38 AM

It's a curse to Kehliya Rambukwella's family. People are dying daily as cheap, poisoners drugs been imported getting commissions. No. food, No medicines .... people should get into the streets with dead bodies to chase Ranil's regime.

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Seeni Bawa Monday, 14 August 2023 11:40 AM

At least now Health Minister Rambukwella should step down or chased out.

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Anura Kumara Monday, 14 August 2023 12:35 PM

It means low quality medicines are detected from the imports from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan etc. Also locally manufactured medicines. Majority from India is because major supplier of medicine globally is India. If you check the prrcentage of defective medicines, majority is not from India, as per the reports. We must note Japan is also in the list. Media should not spread fear among the public.

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Anura Kumara Monday, 14 August 2023 12:35 PM

It means low quality medicines are detected from the imports from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan etc. Also locally manufactured medicines. Majority from India is because major supplier of medicine globally is India. If you check the prrcentage of defective medicines, majority is not from India, as per the reports. We must note Japan is also in the list. Media should not spread fear among the public.

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Anura Kumara Monday, 14 August 2023 12:35 PM

It means low quality medicines are detected from the imports from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan etc. Also locally manufactured medicines. Majority from India is because major supplier of medicine globally is India. If you check the prrcentage of defective medicines, majority is not from India, as per the reports. We must note Japan is also in the list. Media should not spread fear among the public.

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DOT Monday, 14 August 2023 01:45 PM

This is a significant situation. Seems bilateral level attention is requires.

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Dr. WHO Monday, 14 August 2023 01:48 PM

Dr. Rambukwella must be given a National Award for trying to keep population of Sri Lanka under control and also bringing money by way of Commissions to this poverty-stricken country. That must be the reason why President RR keeps him in the position of Minister of Health.

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Dr. Jeevaka Monday, 14 August 2023 01:59 PM

Whether they are bought from India or any other country, if they are of low quality, they should not be in the stores in Sri Lanka. The Minister is responsible for this situation.

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Ratsmeller Monday, 14 August 2023 02:22 PM

If we have this many deaths due to these Indian drugs which entered Sri Lanka recently, imagine how many Indians must have died from the day these drugs were manufactured in India! IF you think like this, dont you suspect this is a Sri Lankan political agenda to discourage Indian drugs coming to Sri Lanka on a line of credit!

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Disparity of price for vaccine from China Monday, 14 August 2023 03:29 PM

Have we heard the old saying that, "Cheap things no good." While we are on the subject, has anyone thought of the anti Covid-19 vaccine supplied by China, some time back? The vaccine was supplied by China at $8/- to Bangladesh, while one million of the same vaccine was sold to Lanka at $13/-, Any reason for this disparity? This happened during Gota's active reign! Same Asela Gunawardhane was Director General of Health Service, but the minister was not Keheliya.

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Raj Monday, 14 August 2023 03:54 PM

Many good medicine company which out quality problem but the srilankan authority but medicine from inferior companies where their price is cheap . Buy from quality company from India

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rbh Monday, 14 August 2023 04:08 PM

Still, Ranil is supporting the Health Heads and he trying to incline with Anura Kumara Dissanayake

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Ram Monday, 14 August 2023 04:10 PM

Why mention past failures. there were no death reported then. This time there have been many deaths. So the quality failures this time are serious and those involved in the imports must be punished

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NAGULESWARAN PANCHALINGAM Monday, 14 August 2023 04:14 PM

Beggars can not be choosers

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Mandayan Monday, 14 August 2023 04:16 PM

Beggers will get the leftovers from the houses wherever he cry for alms. Sri Lanka is in the same situation as those beggars, thanks to the corrupt politicians ruled the country since independence and to the voters who elected them. No point in complaining.

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Kanam Pillayan Monday, 14 August 2023 04:38 PM

these are NGO propaganda working against this honest president and his beloved Health minister Rambukwella. They are innocent and doing the best of the best work for people!

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Tissa Fernando Monday, 14 August 2023 05:53 PM

Ha ha great Indian products, lorry busses, lorry trains , inferior Medicine, expired food , everything dumped at higher prices on credit lines given at high interest rates and in return too many businesses sold at throw away prices. Ranil magic.

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Ceylonese Monday, 14 August 2023 06:00 PM

Pharmaceutical companies overseas first use Sri Lankans as guinea pigs before they introduce the drug on the international market ro see the efficacy of the drug. They also know there are crooked politicians in this country who can be taken for a ride by solociting bribes.

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Pream Madarasinghe Monday, 14 August 2023 06:56 PM

Section 49(1) of the NMRA Act prohibits the importation, distribution, exhibiting or selling of any poor-quality medicine. So, prosecute the importer, and distributor.

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Pream Madarasinghe Monday, 14 August 2023 07:12 PM

As per the news report “Among the drugs identified as having failed the quality tests, some have been withdrawn, withheld or discontinued.”. This declaration is baseless. No information is published under the NMRA Website. Why? NMRA cannot hide those facts. Should publish all such information under Section 61 of the NMRA Act.

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Kunchithapathan Monday, 14 August 2023 09:42 PM

If the president has the spine he should appoint an independent commission to hold inquiries to ascertain the culprits responsible for the import of the same and the laboratory officers who gave the approval.

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