Medicine belonging to state seized from private pharmacy

An investigation team form the National Drug Authority raided a private pharmacy in Pettah, opposite the Fort Railway Station yesterday morning and seized a stock of medicine belonging to the state intended for free distribution among patients in government hospitals.

The stock which included Glyceryl Trinitrate BP 0.5 mg (TNT) meant for heart patients and several other antibiotics is worth nearly Rs 50,000. The raid followed a tip-off given by the public, National Drug Authority’s Director Dr. Hemantha Benaragama said.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena who was informed about the detection, directed the National Drug Authority to conduct immediate investigations and find the culprit responsible for releasing the stock from a state hospital so that legal action could be taken against him, Dr. Benaragama said.He added that action would also be taken against the pharmacy.