Following the withdrawal of an essential drug ‘thyroxine’ from the medical supplies of the Government and private sector, a severe shortage has occurred leaving thousands of patients helpless especially mothers-to-be, persons suffering from hypothyroid conditions, thyroid deficiencies and those who had undergone thyroid gland surgeries.
According to health sources the shortage of thyroxine
which was noticed around two months ago turned into a severe shortage affecting patients in a major way and this shortage may continue for a few more months.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Health Ministry Medical Supplies Division Director Dr. Hemantha Beneragama said that the thyroxine supplied to the medical supplies division was from a local manufacturer and three months ago the drugs were withdrawn from the market due to the poor quality of the substances used in their manufacturing.
“The raw materials used were imported from China and following a number of complaints we sent samples of the drug to the National Drug Quality Unit which certified the drug did not meet proper standards. Meanwhile we informed all the hospitals to withdraw the drug with immediate effect,” he said.
Dr. Beneragama said the company supplying the drug was advised to use German raw materials to manufacture the drug.
“We informed the company to immediately start manufacturing as advised and we managed to supply the improved drug to the main hospitals. However, there may be shortages in provincial hospitals” he said.
According to Dr. Beneragama thyroxine is supplied by one local supplier and one importer from the United Kingdom. Unfortunately the imported drug is sold in pharmacies for a higher price, he said.
The drug that was withdrawn is of 50 mg. and certain Government hospital doctors have advised patients to buy the drug from outside. In certain hospitals patients are being treated with 100mg and 200mg thyroxine.
Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Secretary Dr. Upul Gunasekare said the dearth of this drug has placed mothers-to-be and patients with thyroid deficiencies at risk.
“Lack of this drug for mothers-to-be may cause foetal growth retardation and intrauterine foetal deaths. Certain patients are also advised to continue with the drug to avoid having adverse effects,” he said.
He said that due to no post marketing surveillance poor quality drugs are detected only after they have been distributed.
“This kind of withdrawal of drugs is definitely causing losses amounting to millions of rupees to the Ministry and indeed is a wastage”, he said.
Patient’s claim that this drug is also in short supply, even in the private sector and the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Osusalas.
SPC Chairman Ranjith Maligaspe said that thyroxine is available at SPC outlets but in small quantities.
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