The loss of lives recently due to a shortage of medicines and equipment and inferior quality of those available coupled with medical negligence cannot be taken lightly, said opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.
Addressing the House today (18), he posed several questions to health minister Keheliya Rambukwella under Standing Order 27 (2).
Premadasa said the substandard medicines should be taken out of use immediately and urged the government to deal strictly with those who exploit patients to gain financial advantages.
He said it was sickening to see a bankrupt country was having a medicines mafia and state officials getting investigated for revealing wrongdoing.
Calling the recent deaths of patients as intentional murders, the opposition leader said a government under his SJB would punish all those responsible.
Also speaking here, MP Rajitha Senaratne claimed unregistered medicines were in circulation in the country that that the situation would worsen in the next three months.
Keheliya's response
Health minister Keheliya Rambukwela accused the opposition of creating a fear psychosis among the public and unleashing a nasty attack on the free health service.
