The Citizens’ Power Against Bribery, Corruption and Waste organisation has lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), requesting a full investigation into the importation of allegedly substandard medicines and action against those responsible.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the organisation’s President, Kamantha Thushara said the complaint was filed following reports that two people had died after receiving a particular injection, which was withheld by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). He said there were allegations the relevant pharmaceutical company had imported substandard drugs on more than 100 occasions over the past period. He also said that nine other injectable medicines imported from the same company have been withheld by the NMRA over quality related concerns. "The repeated withholding and withdrawal of medicines in this manner results in losses amounting to billions of Rupees to the Government and the public. We called for a comprehensive investigation into the matter and action against all individuals responsible for allowing such drugs to enter the country."

Last week, the NMRA ordered the immediate withholding of 10 injectable medicines used in hospital settings, following reports of adverse drug reactions and concerns about product quality. In a directive issued to the relevant local market authorisation holder, the NMRA instructed that all parenteral products manufactured by the relevant Indian company be withheld as a precautionary measure, pending further investigations. The NMRA has initiated testing at the National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory and directed that the listed products be withdrawn from the private sector.

The medicines ordered to be withheld include: the Ondansetron Injection US  Pharmacopeia (USP) eight mg per four ml, commonly used to prevent nausea and vomiting; the Cefotaxime Sodium for Injection British Pharmacopeia (BP) 1,000 mg, a broad-spectrum antibiotic; Co-amoxiclav for Injection BP 1.2 grams (g) and 600 mg, used to treat bacterial infections; the Haloperidol Injection BP five mg/ml, prescribed for psychiatric and acute agitation-related conditions; Imipenem/Cilastatin for Injection one g (500 mg/500 mg), a high-end antibiotic used for severe infections; the Iron Sucrose Injection USP 100 mg/five ml, used in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia; Meropenem for Injection USP one g, another critical-care antibiotic; Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection USP 4.5 g, used for serious bacterial infections; and Cefoperazone/Sulbactam for Injection one g, also an antibiotic combination.