73 medicines fail quality tests in 2023

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

A total of 73 drugs have so far failed quality tests in 2023, according to the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry.  Of the drugs that failed quality tests, 45 were manufactured in India, while 17 drugs were locally produced and others being from Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh.   

Among the drugs identified, some have been withdrawn, withheld, or discontinued.   

Besides, a total of 35 batches of Flucloxacillin Cap have been withdrawn in May recorded as the highest so far since 2017 in terms of the number of batches.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 has been a total of 585 cases of quality failures since 2017. Of the highest number of such cases, 96, was reported in 2019, while 86 drugs failed quality tests in 2022.   

Meanwhile, the Health authorities have been compelled to withhold the use of an antibiotic following a death of a patient at the Gampaha District Hospital.   
According to Director General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardena, the patient had died after developing an allergic reaction to the medicine which was later withheld.   
A spokesman from the hospital told Daily Mirror that the patient was admitted to the Gampaha District Hospital on August 6 for wound treatment.   

However, the patient passed away after an allergic reaction to an antibiotic that was administered during his treatment.   

As such, the use of the specific antibiotic has been temporarily discontinued.