• Scientific research underway on Indigenous medicine
• Health Ministry can’t approve such medicine under the law  

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

In relation to indigenous syrup claiming to cure Covid-19, which was distributed by an Ayurvedic practitioner, Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid-19 Disease Control State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle urged the public not to panic and requested them not to queue up  seeking the concoction, until research is concluded.   

Speaking to the Daily Mirror about the indigenous syrup which has been attributed as the cure for Covid-19, which was distributed by an Ayurvedic practitioner, State Minister Dr. Fernandopulle said the Health Ministry was currently in the process of carrying out scientific research on the indigenous medicine.

She said the Health Ministry had agreed in principle to carry out scientific research on the medicine and added based on the results, it could be said whether the medicine was effective or not. 

 
“Hence, it is too early to comment on it,” she said.  

 She said in the Western medical profession, no one can distribute drugs which had not been scientifically tested and approved by an authority. 

“All imported drugs, have to be registered in Sri Lanka under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA),” 

 
“The existing registered drugs, which are used have been scientifically proven and we are aware of the side effects and are aware of who can be administered with the treatment and who cannot be. Our priority is the safety of the general public,” she said. 

 
“So far we know only of vaccines which prevent infectious diseases like Diphtheria and Polio. As per Covid-19 and we are still searching for a antidote. It has been recommended that vitamin D could help combat Covid-19 by boosting immunity,” she underlined.“Therefore, we are yet to approve the particular medicine scientifically,” the State Minister added.

When asked whether the medicine had been approved by the Health Ministry, she said the Health Ministry could not approve such medicine under the Present Law.  

• The medical solutions of the indigenous medical sector would be tested and validated through a special committee appointed by the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine