Three members of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority’s independent expert panel have resigned after the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) approved the use of the Chinese – made Sinovac vaccine in Sri Lanka. They are Dr. Rajiva de Silva, a specialist in immunization, Dr. Kanthi Nanayakkara, a virologist, and Prof. Channa Ranasinghe.
The reasons given for the resignation are that despite their opposition to the approval of the Chinese – made Sinovac vaccine, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority has approved the use of the vaccine in Sri Lanka. The media has reported that an independent panel of experts from the Medicines Regulatory Authority had concluded that the Sinovac vaccine was the weakest vaccine in the face of the delta strain of the corona epidemic.
Two other members of the Medicines Regulatory Authority’s independent panel of experts resigned last June middle of the crisis over the purchase and distribution of Covid vaccines. Professor Arunasalam Padmeswaran, a community medicine specialist attached to the Colombo North (Ragama) Medical Faculty, resigned in mid-June, and Professor Neelika Malavige, an immunization specialist attached to the Sri Jayewardenepura Medical Faculty, resigned in late June. The media has reported that they have resigned citing “personal reasons” and “work overloaded”.
In addition to the eight-member panel, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has been embroiled in controversy since its dismissal and resignation early in this year. In addition to Prof. Padmeswaran and Prof. Malavige, an independent panel of experts from the Medicines Regulatory Authority, was consist with Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama- Specialist in Immunology, Dr. Rajiva de Silva, Virologist, Dr. Kanthi Nanayakkara, Respiratory Specialist, Dr. Channa Ranasinghe, Pediatrician Dr. Lak kumar Fernando and Epidemiologist Dr. Hasitha Tissera. The committee was expanded by including new members, while some members were excluded from the relevant discussions due to pressure to approve the Sinopharm vaccine without data on safety and efficacy in previous Phase III trials.
However, Sri Lanka is in the process of purchasing the Sinopharm vaccine and the Chinese manufacturer of the vaccine has imposed restrictions on its price disclosure. According to the Sunday Times, Nadarajah, Chairman of Kelun Life Sciences wrote a letter on June 13 to Prof. Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Pharmaceuticals, Supplies and Regulation, stating that “if we revealed prices agreed with Sinovac Life Science Company, which Sri Lanka purchase vaccine or made public comment on that, it will lead to legal action against us or terminate the agreement with us.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Jayasundera Bandara, director of the Covid Preparedness and Response Unit, resigned in June. He has spoken to the media that although a large part of the work had been completed under this project, which is being implemented with the assistance of a World Bank loan, he had to publish advertisements for new recruits according to the instructions of the Secretary to the Ministry of Health. A new director was appointed in early June, but the ministry’s announcement on the appointment came on June 15. “So, what can I do other than resign? There is nothing else to do” Dr. Jayasundera Bandara, the former acting director general of health said.