• Concerns raised on track record of certain comm. members
• Committee fires back at ‘personal accusations’ that seek to derail comm.

Concerns have been raised over certain members of the committee appointed to recommend reforms with regard to the procurement of pharmaceutical drugs and to restructure the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

As per a decision made by the Cabinet of Ministers in July, a committee was recently appointed to examine matters, including the identification of impediments in the procurement of quality drugs and equipment at competitive prices, the adoption of simple and transparent procurement methodologies, and restructuring the NMRA.

The committee consists of five members, including Treasury Deputy Secretary A.K. Seneviratne; Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College Campus, Malabe, Professor of Pharmacology and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, senior Prof. Menik Hettihewa; Kotelawala Defence University Hospital Executive Director Prof. J. Balawardane; D. Thotawatte; and Ministry of Health Director of Tertiary Care Services Dr. Priyantha Atapattu.

A communication issued by committee's convener Dr. Atapattu read that this initiative aims to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the procurement methodologies within the NMRA in order to implement simplified and transparent procurement methods, thereby ensuring an uninterrupted supply of safe and high quality medicine.

The committee has called for all stakeholders, experts, the public, and interested parties to submit their written views, observations, suggestions, and recommendations on or before 13 September.

However, The Daily Morning learns that the medical community itself has raised concerns over the alleged conduct of some of its members. One of the said five members of the committee had been serving at a State University. An official of that University, while speaking to The Daily Morning, claimed that the answered examination papers of an entire batch of students had to be reevaluated as the relevant member, who was a professor at the particular Department of Pharmacology at the time, had not declared that one of her relatives was sitting for the particular examination. While an inquiry had been initiated over the incident, the relevant professor had left the university, and joined a private university.

It is further learnt that another member of the committee had been appointed as an advisor on the quality and efficacy of drugs to a State institution during the tenure of the previous United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG)-led Government. The sources of the relevant institution claimed that within a month of his appointment, he had been removed from the post due to certain allegations of misconduct.

Against this backdrop, a medical professional representing a leading professional body in the country claimed that it is doubtful as to whether the relevant committee would properly perform the task that they had been assigned to. "Some members of this committee do not have the adequate expertise to perform this sort of task, and some of them have been accused of various misconducts. Especially, don't the Government universities have experts appointed to this committee? Why are there members from private universities? How can it be assured that these people will do this job properly?" he queried.

Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandraguptha was not available for comment. 

When contacted by The Daily Morning, a member of the said committee noted that these allegations are personal, and that they would not hinder the work of the committee. "A committee is not a structure for individual decision making. All the members come to an agreement after discussion and finally the decisions are taken. Therefore, there is no need to worry about such personal accusations. Who really does not have accusations in this country? Can you find someone who does not have accusations? So, what is important is that the committee fulfills its duty. It will be done based on the information and evidence that we receive," the member.