(Commonwealth_India) Representatives from several professional bodies and civil society groups gathered yesterday outside the Ministry of Health, many of them visibly anxious about what they see as growing risks to the country’s healthcare system. Holding placards and chanting slogans, they appealed to the authorities to pause a recently signed health agreement with India, urging that it not be implemented until an independent technical evaluation committee carefully re-examines its terms. For those gathered, the concern was deeply personal: they said decisions made now could directly affect the safety of patients who rely daily on public hospitals.
Protesters were quick to point out that their stand was not against cooperation with other countries. Instead, they described their action as a plea for openness, responsibility, and reassurance. Many said that when medicines and medical supplies are involved, there is no room for shortcuts. Clear standards, proper testing, and strict oversight, they argued, are essential to protect both patients and the doctors and nurses who care for them.
Addressing the crowd, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the Medical and Civil Rights Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance, spoke with concern about what he called troubling drug procurement practices. He urged the authorities to immediately stop purchasing medicines approved under the Indian Pharmacopoeia and to suspend approvals for related pharmaceutical companies. He also called for an end to the distribution of medicines he believes do not meet acceptable quality standards, stressing that patients especially those already weak or chronically ill should never be put at risk.
Dr. Sanjeewa warned that from January next year, Sri Lanka could face an increased influx of low-quality or insufficiently tested medicines if current systems are not tightened. He called on the government to temporarily halt the registration of Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers, intermediaries, and local agents unless they undergo proper technical checks, including factory inspections and regulatory clearance. “These safeguards are not obstacles,” protesters said, “they are protections.”
He also referred to reports of complications linked to some imported medicines, saying these have left many patients and families worried and confused. According to him, such incidents have shaken public confidence and raised uncomfortable questions about regulation, quality control, and accountability within the health system. Those at the protest said restoring trust will take more than promises; it will require clear action, honest communication, and a firm commitment to put patient safety above all else.
