• Health Secy., DGHS, NMRA Chair absent during hearing of SLMC et. al. complaint
• Keheliya says Addl. Secy. attended as Secy. overseas; pledges Ministry representation at next meeting

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has had to adjourn the investigation launched into the issues related to the shortage of essential medicines in Government hospitals, to 23 March, as the responsible Government officials who were named as the respondents did not appear before the Commission.

It is stated in the press release issued in this regard yesterday (16) by the HRCSL that they had decided to launch an investigation into the shortage of essential medicines in Government Hospitals, considering it as an important national issue which should be intervened in by the relevant authorities as soon as possible. However, they have had to adjourn it as it was difficult to continue it without the presence of the respondents.

The HRCSL had named the Health Secretary, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) as respondents of the inquiry, and summoned them before the Commission on Wednesday (15), but they failed to appear.

The HRCSL stated that this issue must be resolved without spending much more time as it is a very sensitive matter to the public.The complaint was made by Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association.

However, when contacted in this regard, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told The Daily Morning that an Additional Secretary of the Ministry had in fact attended the said meeting due to the Ministry Secretary being overseas on official duties. He added that senior Ministry officials will attend the rescheduled meeting.

Earlier, in January, the Government Medical Officers’ Association filed a complaint with the Sri Lankan office of the World Health Organisation regarding the current drug shortage that the country is facing as a result of the negligence of the authorities

The doctors and other health professionals had warned people of a shortage in essential drugs in Government hospitals, and recently, it was reported that there is a critical issue at the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, cum National Cancer Institute, due to the shortage of essential medicines.

Several attempts by The Daily Morning to contact the DGHS on this matter, proved futile.