The Health Ministry will immediately suspend and cancel all orders given to Isolez Bio-Tech Pharma Company, which is facing serious problems regarding the supply of drugs to Sri Lanka.
Steps have been taken to inform the Ministry Secretary and heads of all related institutions in writing regarding the relevant decision, according to the instructions of the Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
Measures have also been taken to stop all payments due to this company with immediate effect until investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department regarding the relevant drug frauds are completed.The Minister has given instructions to suspend and cancel the orders given to the concerned company as well as the supplies to be received. Due to the recent problematic situation regarding this pharmaceutical company, complaints have been sent to the Criminal Investigation Department and an investigation has been requested.
Information is being reported that the company has provided questionable supplies and that such supplies will continue to be received.
The Health Ministry Secretary, Additional Secretary (Pharmaceuticals, Supply and Regulation), Director General of Health Services, Deputy Director General (Medical Supplies), State Pharmaceutical Corporation Chairman, National Drug Regulatory Authority Chairman and Chief Executive have been sent informational letters in this regard.
The Health Minister has also sent a letter to the Attorney General asking for legal advice regarding this problematic pharmaceutical company and the incident and to speed up the legal proceedings in this regard.
Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Talduwa said that the Criminal Investigation Department has so far received five complaints requesting to investigate the case of importing a drug into Sri Lanka using forged documents and forged signatures and to stop the release of the drug into the market.
The spokesperson mentioned that an advisor to the Health Minister, a voluntary organization, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Regulatory Commission, the Chief Executive Officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority and another person have submitted these complaints. He said further that this incident has been studied and investigations have been launched.
Sandhya Karunaratne