Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has orderd Ministry Secretary Dr. Ravindra Ruberu to inquire into the purchase of 100 million Paracetamol tablets from the open market after the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) mysteriously delayed supplying the required stocks.
A Health Ministry spokesman said the minister had decided to even call in the CID to investigate the matter after Dr. Ruberu presented his report.
According to the Ministry sources, Minister’s directive came after the health ministry received several complaints about a countrywide shortage of Paracetamol tablets at state hospitals during the past few weeks. The Minister had instructed officials and the Kurunegala Provincial Director of Health Services to send a report on the shortage of Paracetamol at the Mawathagama Base Hospital last week. The preliminary investigations had revealed that the SPC had failed to supply the required quantity of Paracetamol required by the Medical Supplies Division (MSD).