India Must Clarify the Truth: Health Professionals’ Association

28-Dec-2025

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The Health Professionals’ Association has expressed serious concern over the importation of substandard Indian injectable drugs, following confirmation of bacterial contamination in Ondansetron injections at Kandy National Hospital.

The Association called on India to clearly state whether the responsibility lies with Indian manufacturers or Sri Lankan authorities. The National Medicines Regulatory Authority has confirmed the findings, and 

around ten injectable drugs have been suspended from use.

Since ampoules are fully sealed, external contamination during transport is unlikely, raising concerns about manufacturing-level failures or falsified quality assurance reports from Indian laboratories.

With over 60 percent of Sri Lanka’s medicines imported from India, the Association warned that approving Indian Pharmacopeia standards without accountability could pose a serious threat to public safety.