Notice issued on drug suppliers

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

The Court of Appeal yesterday issued notice on respondents including two Indian Pharmaceutical suppliers and their local agent in a writ application that sought to suspend the registration obtained with regard to supply of drugs to the Health Department.

The Bench comprised Justice Sathya Hettige PC and Justice D.S.C. Lekamwasam.

Petitioner Arushan Raninkumar, a businessman complained to court that fourth respondent Director General of Health Services Dr. Ajith Mendis and the ninth respondent State Pharmaceutical Corporation had failed to take any action to claim reimbursement for the supply of inferior quality drugs worth Rs. 3,500 million from the first, second and third respondents namely Vengadasalam Nadarajah of Pharma Associates of Colombo 14, A.M. Sulaiman of Madras Pharmaceuticals of Chennai, South India and Bafna Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Chennai, South India.

Counsel Raveendranath Dabare for the petitioner submitted that according to a report submitted by the Auditor General to Parliament, drugs worth Rs. 3,500 million supplied by the 1-3 respondents were destroyed for being inferior quality.

He stated that first to fourth respondents had thus acquired wealth that could not have been earned by their known income.

The petitioner among other matters sought a writ of mandamus to suspend the registration of all drugs and current tenders given to the 1-3 respondents until the payment of Rs. 3,500 million is made to the State by the first respondent according to the Auditor General's report.

Raveendranath Dabare appeared for the petitioner.

The notice would be returnable on May 7.