No halt to heart surgeries at CNH

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Health Ministry denied certain media reports that heart surgeries at the Colombo National Hospital have been halted due to a shortage of the drug ‘Protamine’.

A Health Ministry spokesman said Protamine is freely available at the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) of the Health Ministry.

“No shortage of Protamine will occur in the near future as stated in the media reports. Therefore, there is no need to stop heart surgeries at the Colombo National Hospital,” he said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena ordered Health Ministry Acting Secretary K A S Keeragala to hold an inquiry on the MSD not being informed about a Protamine requirement, if indeed there had been a requirement, by Colombo National Hospital authorities, he said. Protamine is a drug rarely used on certain patients who undergo heart surgeries. Protamine is usually administered to reverse the large dose of Heparin administered during heart surgery, the spokesman said.