Probe into malpractices at Health Ministry

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has ordered a high level probe into three alleged malpractices in the Health Ministry.

The three alleged malpractices are purchasing of suspected syringes, mosquitoe nets and pharmaceutical items to hospitals after creating an artificial shortage.

"Minister de Silva has ordered the Ministry's Flying Squad to conduct a special probe into these three alleged malpractices and provide a report to him in two weeks," a Ministry spokesman told the Daily News yesterday.

Flying squad officials will probe whether there had been any malpractices in ordering a new stock of syringes to replace the syringes removed from Government hospitals due to meningitis.

"The officials will investigate whether the new purchases had been made from the same company and from the previous stock now facing controversy," the spokesman said.

The flying squad will also probe the Rs. four million tender involving the purchase of mosquitoe nets by Malaria Control Programme officials.

They will all investigate into the alleged information that two health officials had purchased pharmaceutical items for the use of hospitals from companies belonging to them after creating an alleged artificial shortage.

"According to information, they have purchased these as emergency ones after creating an urgency in the hospital," he added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry claimed that meningitis has been brought under control due to health authorities' effective measures.

"However, the Ministry and the World Health Organisation are investigating and stern action will be taken against after investigations are over," the spokesman added.