Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena has warned that anyone found to have accepted commissions or made corrupt deals in the importing of pharmaceutical drugs to Sri Lanka will face strict disciplinary action.
The Minister was addressing the 13th Annual Convention of Medicine Suppliers to the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), held at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy.
Minister Sirisena said it was the duty of all politicians, government officials and intellectuals to groom a society that protected and loved its people. “If man cannot love his fellowmen, we have a problem,” he said.
“The media and members of the medical profession have pointed out that we have been using sub-standard drugs, and that contaminants have been found in medicines,” he said.
“The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation and pharmaceutical suppliers should be on full alert. We all have a democratic right to engage in business, but we must act ethically and responsibly.”
Friendly countries have donated Rs. 1 billion to the Health Ministry, and the government has allocated another Rs. 53 billion to the Ministry, Mr. Sirisena said. “The government spends Rs. 1.1 billion a month on a free health service. We have to determine whether this money is being properly used. We will be looking into this very closely.”
The Minister warned that medical institutions found guilty of knowingly giving patients sub-standard medicines would be blacklisted. |
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