News
Drug procurement rackets: GMOA wants mastermind arrested
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The mastermind behind the procurement of a stock of substandard intravenous human immunoglobulin (IVIG) and misappropriating a huge amount of public funds had to be revealed, the secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), Dr. Haritha Aluthge told The Island.
“There is a broad public discussion on how this transpired, what the government has done, and the status of the investigation, especially following the recent arrests. Our stance is that an impartial investigation must be conducted into not only this but also the entire medical procurement process,” he said.
The GMOA had presented a 10-step programme spelling out how to address the issues in the procurement process a year ago, Dr. Aluthge said. Other health sector unions had also made separate proposals. However, nothing had been done until damning evidence emerged about the procurement of a stock of substandard intravenous human immunoglobulin, Dr. Aluthge said.
“The National Audit Office has conducted several investigations on corruption in the health sector. We want the government to implement the recommendations made by the National Audit Office. We must not forget that we are dealing with human lives,” Dr. Aluthge said.
The GMOA Secretary said that there was a universal demand for an end to emergency purchases. Human immunoglobulin had also been procured through the emergency purchasing scheme, he added.
“The lawyers representing the local company that sold the vials told the court recently that the mastermind behind the racket was in the cabinet. There has been no attempt to find out if this claim is true. Apart from the suppliers, some officials who have accepted the stock of human immunoglobulin have been arrested, he said.
Director of the Medical Supplies Division Dr. Kapila Wickremenayake, Assistant Director Devashantha Soloman, Accountant (Supplies) Neran Dhananjaya and the Stock Controller of the Medical Supplies Division Sujith Kumara were arrested on Tuesday over the scam.
“There is no problem arresting anyone involved in a racket. But if these officials were arrested only because they were the ones who accepted the drugs, this would become a problem. Then those who hold positions at the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) will be afraid of making any decision. There is no mechanism in the MSD to check the quality of the drugs. What comes to the MSD is a product that has been accepted by a technical evaluation committee, and payments have been approved by the health secretary. We worry whether this is an attempt to frame lower level officials and misdirect the people,” he said.
Dr. Aluthge said that if the government was trying to close the case, the medical procurement system will become more corrupt in 2024. Shortages will worsen, and the public’s faith in the state health system will further erode, he said.
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Moratuwa, Kesbewa, Handapangoda, Idalgashinna, Yudhaganawa, Kotiyagala and Panama about 12.08 noon today (05)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is
overhead today (05) are Moratuwa, Kesbewa, Handapangoda, Idalgashinna, Yudhaganawa, Kotiyagala and Panama about 12.08 noon
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was yesterday remanded until September 18 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court following his arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in connection with an investigation into the controversial SriLankan Airlines Airbus aircraft transaction.
Rajapaksa appeared before the CIABOC at around 9.15 am yesterday to record a statement after being summoned over the transaction. He was taken into custody following several hours of questioning and subsequently produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate.
The investigation centres on allegations surrounding the acquisition of six Airbus A330 and eight A350 aircraft by SriLankan Airlines in 2013, in connection with an alleged USD 2 million bribe.
Former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and his wife, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, had previously been named in connection with the alleged bribery.
Chandrasena was arrested on March 12 as part of an investigation launched by the CIABOC under the Anti-Corruption Act and was subsequently released on bail. He was later found dead on May 8 while on bail, with police suspecting that his death was a suicide.
Open warrants have been issued for the arrest of Wijenayake, who is named as the second suspect, and Shamindra Rajapaksa, named as the third suspect, in the case pending before the Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with the Airbus transaction.
The investigation has also received assistance from Airbus, with a delegation from the company’s parent group in France visiting Sri Lanka during the first week of August. The delegation provided statements and other assistance to the CIABOC as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Rajapaksa’s arrest and remand yesterday mark a further development in the widening investigation into the controversial aircraft deal.
The number of dengue cases reported in Sri Lanka this year has risen to 96,040, with 72 deaths recorded so far, according to the National Dengue Control Unit.
The Unit said 10,155 cases were reported in August alone, highlighting the continuing spread of the disease across several parts of the country.
The Western Province has recorded the highest number of cases at 50,760, followed by the Southern Province with 13,931, the Central Province with 8,788 and the Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,910.
At district level, Gampaha has reported the highest number of cases at 20,444, followed by Colombo with 19,008.
Kandy has recorded 7,043 cases, while Kalutara and Matara have reported 6,181 and 6,154 cases,a respectively.
The National Dengue Control Unit said 50 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas across the country have been identified as high-risk areas for dengue.
Health authorities have continued to urge the public to take measures to prevent mosquito breeding, particularly in areas where a high incidence of dengue has been reported.
Sun directly overhead Moratuwa, Kesbewa, Handapangoda, Idalgashinna, Yudhaganawa, Kotiyagala and Panama about 12.08 noon today (05)
Showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Uva, Central and Eastern provinces and in Polonnaruwa and Mullaittivu districts after 2.00 p.m
Namal remanded until Sept. 18 over Airbus deal investigation
Dengue cases surpass 96,000 this year
PM Harini, Bhutan King explore closer ties
Johnston granted bail following CIABOC arrest
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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