WHO-recognized drug testing lab in the offing

 

 Amid renewed concerns over the country’s lack of a WHO-accredited laboratory, Sri Lanka has begun upgrading its drug testing facilities to meet World Health Organization (WHO) accreditation standards.

This follows the probe into the withdrawn batches of the Ondansetron and request of the relevant Indian company to send samples for global testing.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said the issue has come into sharp focus during the ongoing probe into withdrawn batches of the drug Ondansetron and a request by the relevant Indian manufacturer to send samples for international testing.

He said Sri Lanka’s continued dependence on external laboratories for internationally recognized drug testing is the result of years of inaction by previous authorities, who failed to establish or upgrade local facilities to meet WHO standards.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is still considering a request by Indian pharmaceutical company Maan Pharmaceutical (Pvt) Ltd., which manufactured the Ondansetron batches in question, to refer the withdrawn samples to a globally recognized laboratory for independent testing.

Dr. Wijewickrama said the request is currently under review by the Medicines Evaluation Committee, and a final decision will be taken based on its recommendations.

On December 13, the NMRA ordered the immediate withdrawal of four batches of Ondansetron injections manufactured by Maan Pharmaceutical following deaths of two patients on suspicion of possible contamination.

However, investigations are ongoing to determine whether the deaths are directly linked to the injection.