'Drugs issued after thorough laboratory tests'

Chaminda Perera

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said that he will resign from his ministerial post,if the drugs available in government hospitals are proved to be substandard.

The Health Minister was responding to a statement made by a doctor at an inquest held into the death of woman at the De Soyza Maternity Hospital.

The doctor had stated that the woman could have been saved, if quality drugs were available at the hospital.

Minister Sirisena said that no one can ascertain the quality of the drugs by their exterior and drugs are issued to the government hospitals after thorough laboratory tests. Two teams comprising officials from the Medical Supplies Division,National Drug Control Authority and National Drug Quality Assurance Authority were deployed to probe the incident and their report revealed that the drugs prescribed for the treatment of this victim are of high standard.