Dr. Chamal Sanjeeva, President of the Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance on Medical and Civil Rights, has raised alarm over the unsafe storage conditions of imported drug stocks in Sri Lanka. Despite being imported last September through various companies by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation, the medical supply unit has not accepted these stocks. Dr. Sanjeeva warned the Health Secretary, Dr. Palitha Mahipala, about the imminent risk of these drugs being destroyed due to inadequate storage at the airport port and other container terminals.
He emphasized that the medications are not properly stored, exposing them to fluctuating temperatures ranging from cold storage to intense sunlight. Moreover, the humid environments pose a serious threat to the quality of these medicines, potentially leading to their deterioration. Dr. Sanjeeva stressed that such unsafe storage practices could render the drugs ineffective, posing grave risks to patients’ lives.
Urgent measures are needed to address this concern and ensure the safe handling and storage of essential medications to safeguard public health.
