Ondansetron suspended over quality concerns: GMOA

By Poojathmi Rivithma

Colombo, Dec 17 (Daily Mirror) - The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) announced that the use of a specific batch of the drug Ondansetron, commonly used to prevent vomiting, has been suspended in Sri Lanka due to quality concerns.

GMOA Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said the medicine, imported from an Indian pharmaceutical company and administered in 8ml doses either as an injection or tablet, has caused adverse side effects in several patients.

 Following investigations at the National Hospital, Kandy, the drug was identified as a quality failure and its use has since been discontinued across the country.

Dr. Wijesinghe further stated that Sri Lanka reports around 80 to 100 low-quality medicines annually. 

He said that the importance of investigating whether the quality issues arise from manufacturing defects, improper storage, transportation conditions or if the medicines are already substandard upon entering the country, is vital. 

"However, when medicines enter the country, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) laboratories are responsible for testing them. If quality issues are identified later, it raises the question of whether proper checks were done, and clear answers should be provided," he added.