Dr. Chamal urges CID probe into massive loss from expired medical supplies

Colombo, Oct. 27 (Daily Mirror) - Chairman of the Doctors' Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, has called on the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to launch an immediate investigation into the alleged negligence and corruption behind the expiration of a large consignment of medical supplies valued at billions of rupees.

A recent audit report has revealed that critical items purchased by the Ministry of Health under the Covid-19 Emergency Response Project—financed through World Bank loan assistance—had expired while stored in the Medical Supply Unit, without being distributed to hospitals.

According to the report, blood glucose strips worth close to Rs. 219 million expired after being received at Medical Supply Unit No. 54 in 2023. Shockingly, they were set to expire even before any distribution took place by January 31, 2025. The audit also highlights that despite having unused glucose testing equipment in storage, hospitals proceeded with regional purchases of similar indicators worth Rs. 59 million in 2022 and Rs. 52 million in 2023 at significantly higher prices.

Further financial losses have been flagged, including over Rs. 38 million worth of Atracurium injections that expired due to improper cold-chain maintenance, and Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets valued at Rs. 71 million that also expired in storage. In total, 892 items amounting to approximately Rs. 900 million in medical supplies were reported to have expired at the warehouse by December 31, 2024.

Dr. Sanjeewa alleged that corruption and mismanagement during the tenures of former Health Ministers Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Channa Jayasumana, and Keheliya Rambukwella—including alleged fraud involving medical reactors and misappropriation of state funds—were major contributors to the crisis. He expressed concern that despite multiple complaints to the CID and the Bribery Commission, investigations have been significantly delayed.

He further criticized the current administration for failing to take disciplinary action against officials implicated in the audit findings, calling for accountability to prevent further wastage of public funds and essential medical resources.