• Min. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa claims stock not connected to Keheliya era, and also cleared by NMRA and Indian labs   
• Keheliya et al. to be indicted

The Government will take legal action against parties that have spread misleading news regarding a stock of Human intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG), which recently caused public unrest, said the Cabinet Spokesperson and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing yesterday (3), he said that such false news could damage public trust in the country’s free healthcare system. He further noted that the said stock has no connection to the substandard IVIG vials manufactured and distributed during the tenure of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. He also stated that the stock of IVIG in question has been cleared by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and by Indian laboratories. “We imported a stock of IVIG from a recognised Indian company through an authorised local distributor. While using those vials, a few incidents were reported, and the NMRA began investigations into them. The rest of the stock was temporarily suspended, and investigations were restarted. Both NMRA laboratories and Indian laboratories later submitted their reports, and a group of specialists recommended that the stock could be used based on those reports. There is no connection with Rambukwella,” he added.

He highlighted that media institutions must act responsibly and maintain high standards when reporting on matters related to public health. “I don’t believe that this was a mistake. It was done intentionally and with malicious intent,” he claimed. He also noted that, at times, such actions could be driven by the high level of competition between companies. “However, I have personally informed the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) to conduct an investigation into this matter and instructed the legal authorities to initiate action against the responsible parties,” he added.

Several media reports were recently circulated claiming that the Ministry of Health had reintroduced a stock of IVIG that had been previously suspended due to quality concerns. The reports alleged that this stock was distributed during the tenure of Rambukwella, who is currently charged with distributing counterfeit IVIG vials.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court yesterday that Keheliya Rambukwella and the other accused in the case filed over the alleged importation of substandard human immunoglobulin vaccines, will be indicted before a Trial-at-Bar (bench of three High Court Judges) next week.