Rédaction Africa Links 24 with AFP
Published on 2024-02-03 12:55:53
A high-level cabinet minister in Sri Lanka has been remanded in custody after being implicated in a scandal involving the purchase of counterfeit drugs for state hospitals during his tenure as the Minister of Health. Keheliya Rambukwella, the former health minister, was ordered to remain in detention until February 15 as investigations into the 144 million rupees ($465,000) scam continue.
According to police reports presented to the court in Colombo, the health ministry had intended to procure a stock of the antibody immunoglobulin, which is used to treat immune-compromised patients. However, it was later revealed that the drugs purchased by the ministry were mostly comprised of water, with little to no medicinal value.
Reports from an investigator revealed that the fake medication had been distributed to hospitals between July and September, leading to patients reporting adverse reactions and necessitating quality tests. The full extent of the consequences of using the counterfeit drugs, including whether any deaths were associated with their use, is yet to be determined.
Following questioning by the Criminal Investigations Department, Rambukwella was brought before the Maligakanda Magistrate Court in Colombo, where the judge ruled in favor of his detention. This development comes in the wake of several other senior officials within the health ministry also being apprehended. Notably, Rambukwella currently serves as the environment minister in Sri Lanka.
The supplier of the counterfeit drugs, a local company, was set to receive a substantial payment of 960 million rupees ($3.1 million). However, payments were halted following the emergence of quality concerns in September. The owner of the company has also been taken into custody in connection to the scandal.
The scandal adds to the woes of a country already facing significant economic challenges. Sri Lanka grappled with a severe shortage of medicines after defaulting on its $46 billion foreign debt in April 2022, ultimately declaring bankruptcy. To address the shortage of essential medicines, Sri Lanka turned to neighboring India and the World Bank for financial assistance.
The unfolding scandal involving the purchase of counterfeit drugs has not only raised serious concerns about the integrity of the health procurement process in Sri Lanka but has also underscored the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in public health systems. As investigations continue, the government is expected to face mounting pressure to address systemic issues and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
