INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The owner of the company, which allegedly used forged documents to import a batch of substandard human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG),
has been further remanded until November 29.The accused known as Aruna Deepthi, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department
court imposed overseas travel bans on the owner of the company, accused of using forged documents to import a batch of vials of substandard
immunoglobulin, and two other high-ranking government officials who were allegedly involved in this fraudulent activity.Accordingly, Sugath
Vijith Gunasekara and Director (Supplies Division) of the Ministry of Health Dr
Kapila Wickramanayake were barred from flying out of the country.Earlier this month, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) said
that forged documents were found to have been submitted for Customs clearance when importing the drug which later failed the quality
tests.The product, which was said to have been manufactured by Livealth Biopharma Pvt Ltd
India, was imported by a local medicine supplier called Isolez Biotech Pharma AG (Pvt) Ltd
However, the India-based manufacturer has denied having to do anything with this fraudulent activity and has communicated to the NMRA that
it has neither manufactured, supplied nor exported these products to any party.It was found that funds amounting to Rs
130 million were misappropriated through the unlawful importation of 22,500 vials of IVIG.The local medicines regulator recently said the
situation came to light following reports of allergic reactions after the drug was administered to several patients being treated at the
Colombo National Hospital and the Matale District Hospital on August 22 and September 16, respectively.
