Raids to detect outdated drugs continue

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) will carry on a series of ad-hoc raids on private hospitals after the recent seizure of expired medicinal drugs from private hospitals, pharmacies and private medical centres.

Following a complaint from a patient’s mother about her son being administered expired saline at a private hospital in Kurunegala, the CAA had conducted about 40 raids in Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Galle, Kandy and Nuwaraeliya districts.

“Among the expired drugs were commonly used paracetamol, saline, polybion B-complex syrup and sticks used for blood tests,” said Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Rumy Marzook.

According to him, people still do not check the expiry date of pharmaceuticals but only check food and beverage items.

“We got to know that a considerable number of patients are admitted to State hospitals after buying and using outdated medicinal drugs purchased from pharmacies or being dispensed outdated drugs at private hospitals,” he said.

Six private hospitals from Gampaha, Kurunegala and Galle had outdated medicines issued to unsuspecting patients while in Colombo two pharmacies had expired drugs.

He said there are complaints regarding private hospitals and nursing homes, issuing medicines that had passed their shelf life.

Under Section 10(1) (a) of the Consumer Affairs Act all manufacturers and importers of pharmaceuticals and vitamins should mark, in inedible ink, the maximum retail price, batch number, date of manufacture, date of expiry, strength and specify the name and address of the manufacturer and/or importer or the trade mark registered in Sri Lanka on the packs or containers or units of all pharmaceuticals and vitamins.

The directive came into effect from January 1, 2013 and legal action can be taken against those dispensing expired drugs