|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 10 February 2002 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Sub-standard tablets in circulation by Shanika Sriyananda Liyanage Despite a number of complaints and warnings by medical practitioners and pharmacists about the inferior quality of tablets imported mainly from India, 18 varieties of tablets which are reported to be substandard, are still being prescribed, especially in government hospitals, the 'Sunday Observer' reliably learns. According to sources no action has been taken to withdraw these stocks, which had been imported last year. The stocks contain pain killer tablets such as 'paracetamol, tablets for psychiatric patients and some tablets for some other major illnesses and injection medicates and surgical gloves. An Executive member of the Society of the Government Pharmacists Union (SGPU) told the 'Sunday Observer' that these inferior quality tablets were not only available in government hospitals but also in private hospitals. Of the 18 such varieties, 'paracetamol' was the largest quantity that was imported. " Over 275 million tablets had been imported from India in two batches- 200 million tablets under Batch No BHS-AD-321-2001 and 75 million tablets under the Batch No. DHS-RD-438-2001", he said. However, according to the National Drug Quality Assurance (NDQAL) in their report - Report No. 23431 and 23599 - it was found this particular batch of 'paracetamol' tablets were not up to standard. "Following the report the Director Medical Supplies of the Ministry of Health, issuing Circular No. F-C31 2001 of 10.09.2001 ordered the 'paracetamol stocks to be withdrawn, however these tablets are still in circulation being prescribed. These substandard tablets may have side effects and headaches when used for a long period of time. These tablets are still being given to patients in government hospitals islandwide and private hospitals", he added. When contacted the Medical officer of Mental Hospital, Angoda said that the 'Carba Mazepin' found to be of inferior quality is still being prescribed to mental patients and would bring serious side effects. He said that Sri Lanka had become a dumping ground of inferior quality drugs and medical equipment for multi-national drug companies. " The authorities should draw special attention to find a solution to this because the money spent is are public money which could be utilized to upgrade the standard of the health sector", he pointed out. Refuting the allegation that substandard tablets were still prescribed to patients in government hospitals, Dr. B.F.S. Samaranayake, Director of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health, assured that no single substandard tablet was given to patients in any government hospital. " Under the directive of the Ministry and the Department of Health we were ordered not to issue any substandard drug to patients but to see that all batches are quality tested and issued drugs found to be unsatisfactory should be withdrawn", he said. According to Dr. Samaranayake, under re-call procedure the drugs are withdrawn from usage according to the NDQL report on each batch and over 40 drugs were withdrawn last year. " According to the NDQL lab report last year we found that paracetamol tablets were slightly less in quality than the required but not bad for prescribing. But we withdrew the whole batch", Dr. Samaranayake pointed out. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
