Samagi Jana Balawegaya MPs Harshana Rajakaruna and Dr. Kavinda Jayawardene filing a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court yesterday (31), called for the appointment of an expert five-member committee chaired by the Health Services Director General to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into the deaths and complications caused by the use of substandard drugs and vaccines.
Nineteen parties, including the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), its members, the Director General of Health Services, and the Minister of Health have been named as respondents.
The petitioners have pointed out that the NMRA is responsible for matters including registration, cancellation of registration, drug storage, drug distribution, pricing, checking the condition of drugs, posting advertisements regarding drugs and equipment, and equipment regulation. The petition also pointed out that several deaths occurred due to the use of those drugs and vaccines, and cases of complications in patients were reported from many parts of the country.
It was reported that one death occurred due to the use of propofol, an anesthetic used for patients, and the petitioners point out that there have been several cases of complications in patients who used that vaccine. It is also mentioned in the petition that various complications were caused by an anaesthetic drug used for spinal surgery, and cases were reported that a number of patients lost their sight due to a drug used for eye patients.The petitioners have pointed out that most of these drugs and vaccines have been imported outside the prescribed procedure of the NMRA and some drugs have been found to be unregistered.
The petition claims that the basic rights of the people of Sri Lanka guaranteed by Articles 11 and 12 (1) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka have been violated by importing and use of inferior drugs.
The petitioners request the court to order the appointment of a five-member committee of consultants chaired by the Director General of Health Services to conduct a formal investigation into the deaths and complications caused to the patients due to the use of related drugs and vaccines. The petitioners have also requested that, this investigation report of the committee be submitted to the court. This petition hadbeen filed by attorney Kuruppuarachchi.
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