No fines collected on substandard eye medicines, says doctors’ union

Colombo, April 11 (Daily Mirror) - The Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights, claimed that no fines have been collected so far from pharmaceutical companies accused of importing substandard eye medicines and other drugs into the country.

Union Chairman, Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa said that during the tenure of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, the Health Ministry initiated legal action through the Attorney General against the relevant companies and had recovered fines in those cases. 

However, he claimed that no similar action has been taken under the current administration.

Dr. Sanjeewa further said that only a few of patients who reportedly suffered blindness due to substandard eye medicines have received compensation so far, while compensation for other affected patients remains pending.

He also revealed that although there had been suspicions that nearly 100 deaths may have been linked to counterfeit or substandard drugs during the previous administration, the current health authorities have not yet taken steps to formally verify those claims.

“It is regrettable that the present government has not taken steps to file cases through the Attorney General or recover compensation from companies involved in importing questionable medicines,” he said.

He added that the Supreme Court has already ruled that the importation of substandard medicines constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights. He noted that ongoing cases related to former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and other officials were initiated based on complaints filed by civil society organisations, and not by the Ministry of Health itself.

Dr. Sanjeewa also pointed out that around twenty companies had been identified as having imported questionable medicines during the previous administration, with the Auditor General also highlighting the issue. He criticised recent remarks suggesting enforcement of the law against companies importing substandard coal, calling such positions inconsistent with the lack of action on the pharmaceutical cases.