In the wake of certain parties raising concerns over the quality of inhalation products imported from India, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) assured that all the imported inhalers are subjected to thorough quality assurance testing.

Last week, the Government Medical Officers Forum (GMOF) urged the NMRA to conduct post-marketing surveillance to assess the quality of inhalation products that are largely imported from India. Speaking to the media, the GMOF President Dr. Rukshan Bellana stated that post-marketing surveillance should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the particular products.

Against this backdrop, when contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (6), the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NMRA, Dr. Saveen Semage, noted that all the products imported under the authority and supervision of the NMRA are subjected to quality assurance tests, and that therefore, the public should not be afraid unnecessarily. He also noted that not only the particular set of products but also each and every drug or piece of equipment would be tested to assure the quality of those products. Dr. Semage further stated that the NMRA is committed to ensuring the quality of every medicine despite certain obstacles that they have to face in terms of practical aspects. Meanwhile, Dr. Semage noted that it will take necessary actions to withdraw or withhold the use of drugs or equipment if any complaint is lodged with the NMRA regarding the quality or side effects of any medicine.

However, the GMOF also demanded an investigation to determine whether the dose administered via inhalers met the required standards.

Several attempts made to contact the Sri Lanka College of Pulmonologists proved futile.