AG calls for probe over drug purchase and distribution

• Auditor General assures that the report will be promptly submitted to Parliament for review
• Objective of this comprehensive investigation is to ensure transparency and accountability in the procurement and distribution of medicines

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

The Auditor General’s Department has decided to launch a special audit inquiry into the purchase and distribution of medicines over the past two years, a senior official from the Department said.   

Accordingly, Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne has emphasized that the proposed inquiry will cover all relevant institutions, including the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and the Medical Supply Division of the Health Ministry.   

“The investigation activities are scheduled to commence next week, as Wickramaratne aims to thoroughly examine the procurement and distribution processes of medicines within the specified time frame,” the official stated.   
“Recent reports from various parts of the country have raised concerns about the use of allegedly substandard drugs. In response to these allegations, the Auditor General’s Department has already initiated an investigation into the computer system employed for drug purchases and distribution. 

This investigation has reached its final stages, and the Auditor General has assured that the report will be promptly submitted to Parliament for review,” he added. 

The objective of this comprehensive investigation is to ensure transparency and accountability in the procurement and distribution of medicines, ultimately safeguarding the health and well-being of the public.    The NMRA has been under criticism for its adhoc mechanism of purchasing drugs under Waiver of Registration (WOR). The drugs purchased under WOR are claimed to have caused complications among several patients and even deaths during the recent past.