The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, to conclude the debate, I wish to respond to Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara of the SJB regarding health. He made a reckless statement based on incorrect data, seemingly to create unwarranted public fear about the health system and medicines. He alleged that the immunoglobulin implicated during former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s tenure was reused and that three patients have died, naming two supposed hospitals and the deceased, which now appears in Hansard. I must clarify.

¶ 02 During Mr. Rambukwella’s time, a consignment of immunoglobulin was procured under serious irregularities; investigations are ongoing and the case is before court. But immunoglobulin itself is an essential medicine; procurement continued thereafter from other manufacturers. On 17 August 2024, adverse reactions were reported with a later batch (not the Rambukwella batch). On 28 August, NMRA took samples for testing. Around that time, a patient who had been on multiple medicines died at Trincomalee Hospital. Given the death and the reported reactions, on 7 September the NMRA decided to withhold the entire product line. Usually, batch-level withdrawal is the norm, not full-product withdrawal; the forthcoming election atmosphere and public discourse may have influenced caution. On 18 October, NMRA formally ordered a full product withdrawal following its lab report indicating endotoxin presence.

¶ 03 Per standard procedure, the manufacturer has the right to present evidence. The Indian manufacturer, Intas Biologics Private Limited, submitted a report from a WHO pre-qualified laboratory, challenging the NMRA lab methodology and findings. After a review and exchanges, on 7 April the NMRA decided the product did not have the reported problem, and on 11 April issued a notice allowing use of remaining stocks if stored under proper conditions. Of the 7,500 vials imported in that later consignment, about 1,500 vials remained and were permitted for use under controlled conditions.

¶ 04 Hon. Jayasekara seeks to conflate this with the earlier tainted consignment. We accept WHO-prequalified lab reports irrespective of the producing country. Regarding the three deaths he cited—two at National Hospital (North Colombo) and Kandy (W. J. Nandasinha), and one at Trincomalee—reports indicate those deaths were not caused by this immunoglobulin. Yet he appears intent on distorting facts to malign the Government, perhaps also influenced by commercial rivalries among suppliers. A TV channel carried a similarly false story linking the current usage to the Rambukwella episode; the Ministry Secretary summoned them and clarified that such distortions could jeopardize their licence if they incite public panic on health matters. They later issued a partial correction. Despite that, the Hon. Member repeated the allegation here.

¶ 05 In the last eight months we have imported around 200,000 vials of immunoglobulin, including consignments of 120,000 and 70,000, following due testing and controls. Immunoglobulin is a life-critical medicine used for patients between life and death. Spreading reckless falsehoods under parliamentary privilege causes public harm. I expect the Hon. Member to withdraw his statement from Hansard at least by tomorrow morning.

¶ 06 Question put, and agreed to.

¶ 07 EXCISE (SPECIAL PROVISIONS) ACT: ORDER

¶ 08 Question put, and agreed to.