‘Drugs provided to maternity hospital were of high quality’

Nadira Gunatilleke

Investigations conducted by the Health Ministry have discovered that the two drugs provided to De Soysa Maternity Hospital are of high quality and nothing was wrong with the quality of the drugs, as stated by a specialist doctor who gave evidence in connection with the death of a mother, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman the two drugs, Augmentin and Meropenum provided to the hospital are of high quality and not affected by any quality failures. The Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division does not supply drugs in their brand names but supply drugs in their generic names. The generic name of the drug is Coamoxiclav and not Augmentin.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena ordered a full investigation into the death of the 27-year mother who died at De Soysa Maternity Hospital, Colombo after a caesarian operation.

Two teams from the Medical Supplies Division and the National Drug Quality Laboratory and the National Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority were sent to conduct investigations, he said.

Giving evidence a specialist doctor attached to the hospital had stated that the mother could have been saved if good quality antibiotics had been available.

The quality of drugs should be decided by conducting relevant laboratory tests and analysis. A doctor cannot judge the quality of drugs without scientific findings.

Miropenam and Augmentin had been given to the mother who died, he added. A 27-year mother from Nittabuwa died after a caesarian operation at De Soysa Maternity Hospital, Colombo.

She was admitted to the hospital for a child birth and a caesarian operation performed because of a delayed delivery.

After the operation she developed fever and was given antibiotics. A prescribed laparoscopic operation had also been delayed.