Company promising life care breaches customs defense

Dehiwala Police along with officers of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority seen conducting a raid at Matrix Lifecare Pvt Ltd situated in Nedimala, Dehiwala

Dehiwala Police conducted a raid at Matrix Lifecare Pvt Ltd situated at No 52/13, Rubber Watta area in Nedimala, Dehiwala two weeks ago on receiving information that the company was packeting and distributing expired medicine imported to the country. The raid was carried out by a team of 15 Police officers headed by the Dehiwala Police OIC and officers of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority

Dehiwala Police said that packets of several vitamins and drugs which were distributed to markets and labelled as quality medicine were found at the place which was raided. The Police confirmed that these medicines are distributed all over the island.

The Police has found many boxes used to pack medicine, documents containing details of such medicines and drugs and vitamins that have reached their expiry dates. The Police said that the National Medicines Regulatory Authority would initially conduct an investigation regarding the issue before truths could be revealed.

Amith Perera, Chief Food and Drug Inspector of the NMRA who participated in the raid, said that the first raid was conducted on information received from the Dehiwala Police. The company was recognised as an importer and distributer of medicines and even if its permit was expired, the company had applied for a fresh one, therefore it was not an issue, he added. He also said that at the raid samples of 17 medicines were taken into custody for further testing.

The Directors of the company Mohammed Nahuman and Mohammed Rizan have informed the officers during the raid that they had in their possession vitamin supplements. Perera said that investigations have begun to identify whether the medicines found in the raid were vitamins or drugs.

The company has packeted these medicines again to add value with new expiry dates and has sold them at higher prices. The company had medicines valued around millions of rupees and I suspect that the company has been engaged in this fraudulent activity for seven years”

Prof. Channa Jayasumana 

NMRA Officers and the State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Prof. Channa Jayasumana have visited the company on June 22 with the test results of medicines, which were taken from there two weeks ago. Prof. Jayasumana confirmed that the reports revealed that the company had not only vitamins, but also six varieties of medicines. During the sudden raid conducted on June 22, the Cholecalciferol drug, prescribed for kidney patients for their Vitamin D requirements, had been found. The NMRA officers discovered that those medicines had reached their expiry and that they had been imported illegally from different countries and were not registered in Sri Lanka. Prof. Jayasumana said that the labels of boxes which contained them and their leaflets had been printed in Sri Lanka and the boxes did not contain any address including the addresses to which the boxes should be sent and the boxes only contained the words “Colombo, Sri Lanka”. “I assume that the company has been importing expired and low-quality medicine on the pretext of importing vitamin supplements and it has been selling them after changing their dates. The company has packeted these medicines again to add value with new expiry dates and has sold them at higher prices. The company had medicines valued around millions of rupees and I suspect that the company has been engaged in this fraudulent activity for seven years. I instructed the NMRA officers to suspend and remove from markets six varieties of medicines; including medicines prescribed for kidney patients and some cosmeceutical items,” he added.

An NMRA officer said that Legal action would be taken against the owners of the company

“Several other illegal activities carried out by the company could be investigated during this raid. One of them was importing and distributing medicines which are not registered in Sri Lanka. Secondly, they would change the expiry dates of expired medicines and would store them in boxes printed in Sri Lanka. The owners of the company acknowledged that they had distributed expired medicines after changing their expiry dates.” he added. 

An NMRA officer however said that even though medicines or vitamins that had reached expiry were found during the first raid, there were no records on reselling them. “The owners said that expired medicines are buried and I do not have evidence to prove that these medicines are resold. Importers of medicines may have expired medicines in their possession. 13 vitamins were tested after the first raid, out of which six were identified as drugs. Legal action would be taken against the owners of the company.” the officer added.

Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the owners acknowledged that they had changed the expiry dates and packeted and resold expired medicines. “The officers who conducted the second raid had enough evidence to prove such a racket had been going on because  they had found printing machines, seals with dates, printed boxes and leaflets. If these officers cannot find evidence, it is their fault.”, he added.

FINGERS POINTED AT SRI LANKA CUSTOMS  
“It seems that only illegal medicines are available in the country and such medicines 

If the health policy introduced by Prof. Senaka Bibile had been implemented, people would have got the chance to get quality medicine. However none of the Governments who came to power which promised to implement that policy did not keep their promise”

Dr. Jayantha Bandara

can lead to an increase in cancers and kidney diseases. The Sri Lanka Customs should be more vigilant to prevent the import of illegal medicines to Sri Lanka. This situation has arisen mainly due to the fault of the Customs. Do not take medicine from everywhere as there can be illegal medicines. Buy medicines from good suppliers registered in the country. Find one good place and keep buying medicine from that place. Medicines including expired cosmeceuticals used by women to get fair skin, to dye hair and to grow hair have also been found during the raid. Their expiry dates have been changed and have been distributed to be sold at higher prices. Those who used such medicines should be more careful.” he warned.

An NMRA officer however said that even though medicines or vitamins that had reached expiry were found during the first raid, there were no records on reselling them

All Ceylon Medical Officers’ Union Secretary Dr. Jayantha Bandara said that medicines imported to Sri Lanka are not regulated properly. “If the health policy introduced by Prof. Senaka Bibile had been implemented, people would have got the chance to get quality medicine. However none of the Governments who came to power which promised to implement that policy did not keep their promise. The countries which implemented the policy have already reaped the benefits. There are issues regarding medicines and medical equipment imported to the country.

There are illegal activities involved in importing all kinds of medicines including the paracetamol tablet and other high-quality medicines. Even if there are expired medicines in the country there is no one to take responsibility. There are many medicines imported illegally which cannot even be known as medicines. No guarantee can be issued with regard to the quality of medicines used in the country as there is no proper laboratory to test the medicines. The laboratory already in place is not functioning properly. When importing medicines the manufacturing country should test the quality of the medicine first. They have to be retested before shipping. After entering the Colombo Port they have to be rechecked through the Customs to confirm that the said medicine has arrived. That method is no longer practiced at present.”, he added.

“We do not know if the imported medicines contain the approved dosage. Such things should be tested. We are also unaware of their quality which depends on the country of manufacture or the brand name of the importing company which determines the price of the medicine. Even if another country manufactures a better medicine, the previous company can overshadow them with the power of money. What is important is the composition and the quality of the medicine. Every imported medicine should get a quality assurance certificate. There is no such method practiced in Sri Lanka for imported medicine. When doctors prescribe a medicine, they do so for the brand and not for the quality of the medicine and this is a serious concern. The NMRA should issue a quality assurance certificate to the medicines available here and import medicine. NMRA does not seem to be performing that duty.” he opined.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NMRA, Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe said that the NMRA conducts raids often and takes legal actions against those who commit offenses. “Medicines found during raids are tested in labs. Imported medicines are also properly tested. As the NMRA conducts raids regularly, illegal sellers of medicines are caught and some people keep repeating the offenses and they are dealt with according to law,” he added.

Medicines found during raids are tested in labs. Imported medicines are also properly tested. As the NMRA conducts raids regularly, illegal sellers of medicines are caught and some people keep repeating the offenses and they are dealt with according to law

Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe

An NMRA officer said that imported medicines are not regulated at all. “Certificates issued by the Government of the manufacturing country and the manufacturers are inspected annually to test the quality of medicines. As medicines manufactured by the best companies are imported, there is no issue regarding their quality. The regulation of vitamin-based products commenced not long ago and so far only 70-75 varieties have been registered. When imported medicines do not have a registration number, they are considered as illegal medicine and legal action can be taken.” he added.

The NMRA officers discovered that those medicines had reached their expiry and that they had been imported illegally from different countries and were not registered in Sri Lanka

Ishara, the attorney-at-law representing the said company, when contacted said that his client is only distributing vitamins not medicines. “We were questioned on why expired medicines were stocked and not destroyed under the supervision of the NMRA. Covid-19 situation delayed the destruction process and as the NMRA could not acknowledge our reasons for such delay, there is an ongoing investigation” the lawyer representing the company said. 

Our attempts to contact the Directors of Matrix Lifecare Pvt Ltd to inquire about the raid on June 22 and on distributing expired medicines in the country proved futile.

“Doubts that arise must be cleared through discussions”- Customs

When contacted Sri Lanka Customs Spokesperson Sudath De Silva said that Dr. Channa Jayasumana would have made his remarks regarding the said stocks of medicine following a criterion and what the state minister said would be investigated upon. He said that Sri Lanka Customs when dealing with such imports will consider the name of the company that manufactures the medicine and also the recommendations provided by the health authorities of that country. 

He added that before a drug is imported Sri Lanka Customs will take into consideration the permit issued by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority for such a business activity. Sri Lanka Customs will view the importing of medicine in the same line as other goods, according to accepted norms. The purpose of why the medicine is imported will be decided upon the recommendations made by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority. If the item imported is not a medicine it will fall into the category of a supplement. Goods reaching the port will be released citing these recommendations. In the event the Sri Lanka Customs is in doubt regarding goods imported the items will be referred to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority. He further added that since there is a difference in the manner in which these two bodies do their recommendations it would be good if both bodies clear doubts through discussions.