• Proceeding with due diligence - Police

Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association (MCPA) yesterday (12) alleged that the Police was dragging their feet on arresting the masterminds behind the substandard human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) vials scam.

Joining a press briefing held in Galle, President of the MCPA Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa stressed that the suspects involved in the relevant racket should be presented to the court before 15 November. Furthermore, he charged that the Ministry of Health is working to protect corrupt officials who are friendly to the authorities.

However when contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (12), Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent (SSP) Attorney Nihal Thalduwa stressed that the Police Department does not hamper the ongoing investigations into the incident intentionally, but it takes much time since some facts must be clarified with relevant parties such as doctors and pharmaceutical experts, and that the investigations and recording of statements are being still carried out by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

He also said that arrests cannot be made arbitrarily based on assumptions, without having proper reasons, since strong evidences are needed to prove their charges. “Even if we think that some allegations and facts are being disclosed during the investigations, those should be clarified by relevant parties such as doctors and pharmaceutical experts which take some time to come up with proper clarifications. This cannot be done in a hurry. Such types of investigations, especially carried out by the CID would not conclude immediately as many parties wish,” he said.

Recently, the owner of the company which had allegedly imported the vials of substandard IVIG vials, was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Accordingly, the court had imposed overseas travel bans on the owner of the company, which is accused of using forged documents to import the substandard medicines, and two other high-ranking government officials who were allegedly involved in this fraudulent activity.

The use of the controversial batch of IVIG had temporarily been halted as investigations were ongoing. The National Medical Regulatory Authority (NMRA) stated following the incident that it had filed a complaint in this regard with the Criminal Investigations Department. When contacted by the NMRA, the India-based manufacturer had stated that it did not produce this drug anymore. The NMRA asserted that this drug had been imported and used in the country without its approval.

Several attempts made by The Daily Morning to contact the Secretary to the Health Ministry Janaka Chandragupta in this regard proved futile.