The Association of Health Professionals has called on the authorities to conduct a technical investigation into the revelations of government officials instead of intimidating government officials into disclosing information on fraud and corruption in the health sector.
The Association of Health Professionals says that it is not clear what crime has taken place in connection with the YouTube discussion in which Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara was subjected to a criminal investigation.
Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara, the Deputy Director of the Medical Research Institute, was summoned to the CID in Colombo on Tuesday morning, August 31. But he did not go there that day and asked for 14 days.
He had to go to the CID following a complaint lodged by three doctors from two government agencies. According to the police, the complainants are Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Uthpala Indrawansa, Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Rasitha Wijewantha, Chairman of the National Drug Regulatory Authority.
Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara recently stated that there is a serious problem with the importation and testing of antigen testing kits to Sri Lanka and that frauds and corruption in the Drugs Regulatory Authority, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and the Database of the Drugs Regulatory Authority have been destroyed. This comments were made to a YouTube channel.
He had stated that a PCR test in Sri Lanka could be done for less than Rs.2,000 and an antigen test for Rs.650. The complainant doctors have requested for an inquiry into the matter.
Ravi Kumudesh, President of the Association of Health Professionals, points out that Dr. Bandara’s statement regarding the prices of PCR and Rapid Antigen does not appear to be false. Ravi Kumudesh points out that the Ministry of Health can provide a PCR kit for less than Rs.800 and a Rapid Antigen kit for less than Rs.800 if the need arises.
Therefore, the Association of Health Professionals urges the authorities to conduct a speedy technical investigation into the revelations made by Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara and to take immediate action to ensure that the benefits accrue to the country and the public.
A statement issued by Ravi Kumudesh further states that “We also believe that the initiation of a criminal investigation is a subtle intimidation and an attempt to prevent accurate reporting, as well as an undermining of the work of the CID.” .