DailyMirror
Minister says supplier will be black-listed if evidence of negligence is found
The Health Ministry will conduct a special investigation tomorrow into the detection of glass pieces in vials containing Hydrocortisone and Cefuroxine last week at the Ratnapura General Hospital with the participation of representatives of the Indian supplier of the two drugs, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
“We do not want to hide facts or protect anyone. That’s why we are conducting this open inquiry. If found any lapses on the part the drug supplier we will take strict action against him. It could be either the suspension or even black-listing the supplier,” Minister Silva told a news briefing yesterday held at his ministry.Asked as to why the ministry took more than a week to conduct the open inquiry, he said the ministry had to follow the legal and administrative procedure to prepare the ground work for the open inquiry.
The defective vials have to be sealed and certified by the Government Analyst. They were required to be compared with other vials of the batch. The sealed vials have to be opened and inspected before the representatives of the drug company, he said. Commenting on the death of two school girls in Matara and Wariyapola after the Rubella vaccination, Minister Silva said the investigation conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) had found that there was nothing wrong with the vaccines.
“It is quite clear that both girls died from Anaphylaxis Shock after the Rubella vaccination.
The girls developed complications as they were allergic to Rubella vaccines and not because of any defect of the vaccines. The WHO report has said,” the minister pointed out. The ministry took precautionary measures on the recommendations of the WHO. Emergency Trays were supplied to 300 MHO offices. The MOHs and PHIs were given further training on Rubella vaccination.
The drug supply system undergoes a strict procedure before a drug reaches the doctor. A drug, injection or vaccine is subjected to laboratory tests and quality assurances at several stages from the tender stage to the pharmacy by several panels of eminent persons who are professionals on each subject. Serum Institute of India is the only supplier of Rubella vaccine.