A significant development has occurred in Sri Lanka's ongoing scandal surrounding the alleged purchase of counterfeit drugs during the country's economic crisis. Keheliya Rambukwella, a former health minister and current environment minister, has resigned from his position in the Cabinet after being arrested for his alleged involvement in the procurement of counterfeit intravenous human immunoglobulin. This medical product is crucial in fighting infections and cancer. Rambukwella's resignation comes amidst mounting pressure from opposition lawmakers, activists, and health groups for his removal and a transparent investigation into the scandal.
The investigation has also resulted in the arrests of five other high-ranking officials from the Health Ministry and the supplier implicated in the procurement of the counterfeit drugs. Rambukwella is accused of exploiting the economic crisis as justification to bypass the usual tender process for purchasing various types of medicine and allegedly showing favoritism towards a particular supplier.
Rambukwella formerly held the position of health minister until October of last year when he was reassigned as environment minister. However, prior to his reassignment, he faced a no-confidence motion submitted by opposition lawmakers in Parliament. The motion accused him of inadequately ensuring the availability of essential drugs and laboratory equipment, resulting in preventable deaths within hospitals. Despite these allegations, the motion was defeated due to the governing coalition holding a majority in the 225-member house.
It is worth noting that Sri Lanka provides free healthcare through state-run hospitals. However, these hospitals have been grappling with shortages of medicines and healthcare workers, particularly doctors, due to the economic crisis. Tragically, several patients have either died or experienced severe health issues, including blindness, while receiving treatment at these hospitals. The instances are currently under investigation by the Health Ministry. Relatives of the affected patients, medical trade unions, activists, and opposition lawmakers have voiced concerns that low-quality drugs may be responsible for the decline in patient care.
Sri Lanka plunged into an economic crisis after declaring bankruptcy in April 2022, with debt totaling over $83 billion, with foreign creditors holding more than half of it. The resultant economic crunch led to severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel, cooking gas, and electricity in 2022. These shortages sparked massive street protests that ultimately forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign. The country has since obtained a $3 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund and has undertaken measures to restructure its domestic and foreign debts.
Under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the shortages of food, fuel, and medicine have significantly improved over the past year. However, public dissatisfaction has been growing due to government efforts to raise revenue by increasing electricity charges and imposing heavy income taxes on professionals and businesses. These measures are part of the government's commitment to fulfilling the conditions of the IMF bailout.
The economic crisis has had additional consequences, including a significant migration of Sri Lankans seeking higher paying jobs abroad. This includes approximately 1,500 doctors who have left the country over the past year, according to a doctors' union. The departure of skilled healthcare professionals further exacerbates the challenges faced by the healthcare sector in Sri Lanka.
As the investigation into the counterfeit drugs scandal continues, there is an urgent need for a thorough and transparent process to ensure justice for the affected patients and hold those responsible accountable. The crisis and subsequent scandal have shed a spotlight on the importance of a robust healthcare system and the devastating consequences that can arise when it is compromised. Sri Lanka must address these concerns to rebuild public trust and ensure the provision of quality healthcare services to its citizens.
