NMRA breaks silence on delay in releasing Ondansetron report

Colombo, Jan. 16 (Daily Mirror) - The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has broken its silence over the delay in releasing the laboratory report on the withdrawn Ondansetron injection, saying the testing process is complex and cannot be rushed.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, NMRA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kumudu Bandara said the authority was still awaiting final test results.

“It takes time to culture and test samples. We leave no room for any hiccups in the testing process. It is not that we are deliberately dragging the release of the report. We are yet to receive the results of the samples. This is not a simple process,” Dr. Bandara said.

He added that the NMRA expects to release the report within the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, complying with a request made by the Indian pharmaceutical company that manufactured the Ondansetron injection in question, local health authorities last week decided to send samples of the withdrawn batches to a World Health Organization (WHO)-accredited laboratory for international testing.

The clarification comes amid mounting criticism from medical professionals, nearly a month after the NMRA ordered the withdrawal of four batches of Ondansetron on December 13, following suspicions of possible contamination. The drug was reportedly administered to two patients who later died.