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GMOA protests reprieve of banned drug manufacturers to overcome shortage
View(s):The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) claimed that lifting the ban on quality-failed drug manufacturers, due to the shortage of lifesaving drugs, is not the remedy to solve the current crisis in the pharmaceutical sector in the country.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr Nalin Ariyarathne said that they are happy that the authority is now quality testing drugs more regularly.
“But it is strange that the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority (CDDRA) would lift a ban only weeks after imposing it on the companies. We have a real doubt whether these companies are actually supplying good quality drugs. The CDDRA should ensure the quality of the drugs supplied to the market,” he said.
CDDRA Director Dr Beneragama said that the decision to lift the ban of the four drug companies was temporary, and was done due to a shortage experienced in critical lifesaving drugs.
“Once we banned these products, we found that many lifesaving drugs are also going to be denied to the people. Our minister had spoken to the Bangladesh foreign minister and authorities, and also to the WHO in Bangladesh and the High Commissioner. We had also spoken to Thailand to get the drugs. But it takes time to manufacture” he said, adding that the CDDRA may also face legal issues if the total ban is not lifted.
Dr Beneragama said that, under current regulations, only drugs that have failed in quality can be banned, but not the entire manufacturing company. Explaining the CDDRA has banned six pharmaceutical drugs which have failed in quality the other drugs supplied by the companies will be released again to the market.
When asked if the CDDRA was not aware that there would be a shortage in the country when banning these companies, Dr Beneragama said that the CDDRA withheld the drugs, but did not completely withdraw the products, for fear of a shortage.
Dr Beneragama also said that, once the new regulations are in place, the authority would ban 12 drug companies for failure to comply with the CDDRA’s quality standards.