Reports claim Health Min. under pressure to procure substandard hand sanitizers from SPMC

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Several Senior Officials of the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) are exerting pressure on the Ministry of Health to procure substandard hand sanitizers from a private company, well-placed sources revealed.

Ministry sources claimed that the Officials of the Medical Supplies Division are being severely pressurised by the Higher Authority of the SPMC to procure the substandard hand sanitizers from the SPMC-JV Company Medicom, owned by Dr. Lohitha Samarawickrema, who is considered to be a close associate of the former President and former Minister of Health given their interest in the Medicom.

Medicom is the manufacturer of a substandard rub-in hand disinfectant known as Sterimed which has been recalled by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) due to serious quality concerns.

In a letter dated 06 March 2020, the National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory (NMAQL) which conducts laboratory tests necessary for determining compliance with product quality, safety and efficacy requirements had informed the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) that samples of the said hand sanitizer have quality defects.

REPORTS OF DEAD COCKROACH IN A BOTTLE?

The NMAQL report on samples of the Sterimed hand sanitizer has cited the presence of a dead cockroach in one of the bottles as well as the pump bottles not being tamper-evident where the plastic wrapper seal is limited only to cap with squeezing tip as serious quality defects.

Accordingly, in a letter dated 17 March 2020, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NMRA, Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe, has advised all those having stocks of the batch concerned to immediately withdraw the batch of hand sanitizers from use and to keep such stocks in a demarcated and secure place until they are formally disposed of.

Ministry sources claimed that it is difficult to perceive how a Regulatory Authority could award such an accreditation to a manufacturing facility that is capable of releasing such a product into the market.

They noted that this sort of negligence in medical manufacturing, lack of basic quality control and quality assurance protocol could have serious implications on the end users of such products.

CONCERNS RAISED ON A BANNED SUBSTANCE?

The Sterimed hand sanitizer contains 30 grams of Propan-1-ol per 100 grams of solution.

However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States (US) has banned the use of hand sanitizers containing this particular type of alcohol.

Propan-1-ol is typically used to make industrial solvents (A type of cleaner) and can also be toxic to humans, dermatologists pointed out, adding that the long term exposure of Propan-1-ol can result in decreased breathing and heart rate, among other serious symptoms, and can lead to death.

Hand sanitizers with 1-propanol contamination can irritate the skin with most people reporting allergic skin reactions.

It is also alleged that the Sterimed hand sanitizer costs more than double the amount in comparison to the current hand sanitizer that is being procured by the Health Ministry.

Ministry sources claimed that high ranking SPMC Officials are receiving commissions through these deals and noted that it is the responsibility of the Health Ministry to work in the best interest of the state instead of acquiescing to the demands of the SPMC.

Courtesy: Lanka Leader