The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has commenced an investigation into the purchase of laboratory reagents worth over Rs. 2.5 billion for the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo.
These purchases during the past three years, have allegedly been carried out without the relevant approvals, with some of the purchased reagents found to be contaminated or close to expiry.
The move comes after a complaint lodged by Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) President Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, who has also filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID has already begun collecting preliminary evidence in relation to the incident and recorded a three-hour statement from Dr. Sanjeewa on 1 September.
In a written communication made to him, the CIABOC has confirmed that it had opened a probe into the matter.
Dr. Sanjeewa, speaking to The Daily Morning, claimed that senior Health Ministry officials, a former Deputy Director of the NHSL in Colombo, several medical specialists, and laboratory technicians, were responsible for the questionable purchases.
According to his complaint, the laboratory reagents were procured over a three-year period under the category of ‘regional purchases’ without the proper approval of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry. He further alleged that some of the reagents were either contaminated or close to expiry, while contracts had been given to a single company at unapproved prices.
“This is a serious matter that compromises both public funds and patient safety. The financial loss to the Government is suspected to be far greater than the loss recorded in the substandard medicines scandal during the tenure of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. Audit reports show that this questionable purchasing mechanism, involving Rs. 2.5 billion, continued until April of this year. We hope that the CID and the CIABOC will carry out the investigations and bring those responsible before the law as soon as possible.”
Efforts to reach the Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni and the Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe on whether the Ministry had initiated an internal inquiry were unsuccessful.