LNP – Unregistered medicines sold near National Hospital Colombo and countrywide

Magen Ratata’ organization chairman, Sanjaya Mahawatte, claimed today that illegal medicines are being sold in front of the National Hospital in Colombo and across the country.

He said that these medicines are not registered with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

He told the media that it is wrong for unregistered medicines to reach the public and emphasised that the NMRA should take immediate action to prevent this.

“There are about 50 types of medicines obtained from companies across the country that have been denied licenses. Despite repeated requests under the Right to Information Act, we have not received any information about the institutions supplying these medicines,” he said.

Although he had made the request to the NMRA more than a month ago, he is yet to receive a response. He also pointed out that the lack of transparency raises serious doubts on whether officials working in such state institutions being involved in the drug mafia.

It is a concerning situation that information about medicines, which directly affect people’s lives, is not available from a state institution. As a social activist, he will take legal action if the information is not provided, he said.