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Last Updated : 2024-05-09 17:47:00
22 December 2022 04:51 pm - 22 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has come under fire over his current visit to India, with health officials questioning whether the Minister is overseas to purchase alleged low quality medicines through a private Indian company.
The Daily Mirror learns that Rambukwella left for India on December 21 and is expected back over the weekend. However Health officials have raised concerns over the Minister's sudden visit to India after rumors surfaced that he was there to purchase medicines from a private Indian company.
Health officials told Daily Mirror that upon the Minister's return they will raise this matter with him, and if true, will ask for an explanation as to how this particular Indian company was selected to purchase the drugs. "The Minister has to release an immediate statement even while he is in India or upon his return as to why he is there and what his dealing is with the said private company, if it is true," senior officials said.
"With such a shortage in medicines, if the Minister is in India to purchase low quality medicines, then it will be a huge issue for the local health system. We have raised this issue of low quality local medicine manufacturing companies with the Minister in the past but he ignored this matter. Now if the Minister is in India to deal with a private company that deals with low quality medicines, then we will stop that," senior officials added.
"If low quality medicines enter the market, people will lose trust in the entire health sector," officials added.
Reports have alleged that this said private Indian company has not been approved by the NMRA and there are no answers as to how this company was selected to purchase the drugs.
Questions are also being raised as to who has funded the Minister's sudden visit to India with some reports stating that it was the said private Indian company paying for the Minister's tour.
Corrupt practices for side benefits for minister Thursday, 22 December 2022 05:26 PM
Typical total corruption. If the private company is paying for the visit, they may be also giving me side benefits even if it means his family members back accounts are the ones with the cash injections. This is usual poor Sri Lankan practices that in any developed democracy would be seen has thoroughly corrupt.
L.A.Budhdhadasa Thursday, 22 December 2022 05:35 PM
The Indian government is not in the pharma business. Private companies do it. So what's there to get hysterical about?
roni Thursday, 22 December 2022 05:47 PM
Firstly what qualification does this guy have to be a Minister of Health. How can he command respect of officials of the Ministry with proven record of failure in any post he held. This is nothing but to steal.
Rip Winkle Thursday, 22 December 2022 05:57 PM
When will this highly corrupt fellow stop his shenanigans? Why is he even allowed to be where he is? With the type of resumé he possesses, he must be chased away.
Blessing Thursday, 22 December 2022 06:18 PM
Last minute efforts in plundering the sinking ship. All crooks have got together with the sole aim of utilising their last chance of remaining in politics.
Pathirana Thursday, 22 December 2022 07:40 PM
India is not a scientifically advanced country, all the medicines and drugs it makes are generic, it means copying the chemicals used in the original drugs made in the Western Countries and producing them in India as Indian made drugs. It is very dangerous and even African countries have stopped buying the so called “Indian Made” medicines. This Minister must definitely have been bribed in thousands by the Indians to buy the Indian medicines for our country. All the Sri Lankan Ministers are in the pocket of Indian government and Indian private businessmen. Indians are destroying Sri Lanka while we are focusing on Cricket.
Ram Thursday, 22 December 2022 07:42 PM
Private or public for Keheliya the issue is commission. He must have done well on that
John Fernando Thursday, 22 December 2022 08:56 PM
Can someone please clarify whether this guy paid off his huge electricity bill? Only god knows what other bills he was dodged using ministry post.
Indian Thursday, 22 December 2022 09:57 PM
Why don't you guys but medicine from Europe and USA
GHT Thursday, 22 December 2022 10:26 PM
Is there in India manufacturing high quality drugs? if so in which part? we all know to date that the masters and the country in forefront making inferior quality drugs are coming from, in India
Jeewaka Namanpala Friday, 23 December 2022 01:25 AM
This Kaalakanni hora is still surviving after stealing from MaRa company!! This is a much better platform to steal and survive as the leader knows how to escape from the big bank robbery! God, please help them to get out from this world for the sake of innocent people of SL!!!
Truth Friday, 23 December 2022 02:07 AM
Indians are only good at one thing , killing children and healthy individuals and stealing their organs to be smuggled out of India with Sri Lankan criminal individuals selling them in Canada.
Lion Friday, 23 December 2022 06:21 AM
This notorious bribe taker will definitely make millions out this deal.
Buddhist Friday, 23 December 2022 07:42 AM
In which country a Minister went abroad to purchase medicine? May be to get "santhosams".
Wella Friday, 23 December 2022 08:25 AM
Shedding some lights on India's pharma capacity - India is the largest provider of generic medicines globally, occupying a 20% share in global supply by volume, supplying 62% of global vaccine. India ranks 3rd worldwide for production of drugs by volume India is home to more than 3,000 pharma companies with a strong network of over 10,500 manufacturing facilities. India has the highest number of US-FDA compliant Pharma plants outside of USA and its API industry is third largest in the world. India's current export of pharma stands at USD 30 billion for FY 22-23 YTD, exporting to 200 countries. And those cribbing that India make generic drugs, without them you will first die of financial debt and later by any illness.
Shera Friday, 23 December 2022 09:24 AM
Before you can create a successful country and economy the people running it must have exceptional ethics. But where can such people be found in Sri Lanka? There doesn't seem to be anyone.
Sambo Friday, 23 December 2022 09:26 AM
Yes! other wise no commission no.
Nathaniel Friday, 23 December 2022 10:32 AM
@ Wella, you Indian propagandist ! The Generic Medicine is not a proper medicine , it is semi - poison . Indians are killing people in poor third world countries by selling these cheap Semi- Poisons as proper medicines. African countries have decided not to buy these dangerous copied “gimmicks” from India
Samuel Friday, 23 December 2022 12:36 PM
Sri Lankans are good in talking...nothing else. Highly negative thinking society.....if you open the newspaper its just negative news.....nothing positive happening in country? Is anyone stopping you importing medicine from rich country? Useless guys.
Ceylonese Friday, 23 December 2022 05:56 PM
Sri Lanka is a poor country and cannot afford to buy pharmaceutical drugs from Europe and USA which are also manufactured in India under license and sold in Sri Lanka because it is cheaper. This has been the practice for many decades which has saved many lives in Sri Lanka.
Antibiotic Resistant Saturday, 24 December 2022 06:48 AM
Cough Medicine Deaths Highlight India’s Problem With Sub-standard Medicine - Health Policy Watch. Weak or substandard medicines are also a major driver of Antimicrobial Resistance – which is reaching epidemic proportions in India as well. Experts say India is one of the nations worst hit by antimicrobial resistance.
jason Saturday, 24 December 2022 09:13 AM
@Pathirana and @Nathaniel. You chinese little rats. Why dont you buy the meds from China then. Did the global supply of Covid vaccine come to you from MaRas or Gotas home. The african case was acknowledged by India and investigations are being conducted. If India wouldnt have taken the initiative to produce generic medicines, how will your lot survive. And is this the science that they teach you in SL that generic medicines are semi poison. Maybe if you werent busy all the time being a chinese concubine, you would have got some quality education. Thankless lot
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