The Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena said 20% technical assessment committees of the Ministry appointed to purchase drugs were highly corrupt.

 Issuing a press release the Minister stated that the Technical Assessment Committees did not have any right to directly talk or write to the medicine suppliers who volunteered for tenders.

 “In an investigation I conducted, we learned that during the purchasing of drugs, some technical assessment committees delayed the issuing of technical reports for about two years and prevented the purchase of drugs, all the while communicating with the suppliers,” Sirisena said.

 Meanwhile the press release also said that under the approval of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena the Ministry had recently made preparations for an active drug procurement plan which would safeguard the quality of drugs and prevent the shortage of medication in Sri Lanka.

 “According to this new system if the suppliers provide poor quality medication, supply insufficient amounts of drugs, or do not supply medication during the relevant period of the agreement, according to the new procurement suppliers would have to payback the 100% value of the drugs and 25% more as administrative costs,” the press release said. (Jayashika Padmasiri)