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Two MPs file petition against Keheliya and NMRA
Two Parliamentarians today filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order to set up an Independent Probe Committee to carry out investigations against health authorities including the Health Minister and National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), for repeatedly permitting the importation of medicines and medical devices that are substandard or unauthorized.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarians Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena and Harshana Rajakaruna filed this petition naming Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Chairman of NMRA, its members, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena and several others as respondents.
Filing this petition through Attorney-at-Law Dimuthu Kuruppaarachchi, the petitioners maintained that importation and distribution of medicines following the authority’s decision is not fit for human use or consumption.
The Petitioners reiterate that the respondents have allowed these drugs to be provided for the hospitals and administered to the general public without proper research, contrary to the normal procurement process, health guidelines and ordinary health, putting public health in danger.
The Petitioners reiterate that Section 109 of NMRA Act only permits medicinal products that are specifically and specially needed to control the disease or treat the persons affected or persons who will be affected in the future, by that particular incident, to be brought down to Sri Lanka.
The Petitioners state that the respondents, taking advantage of Section 109 of the Act, continue to bring medicinal products to Sri Lanka under and in terms of the emergency regulations. The Petitioners reiterate that Section 109 of the Act lays down a procedure to be followed in exceptional circumstances which the respondents are abusing as a routine practice.(Lakmal Sooriyagoda)
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