The Ayurveda Drugs Formulary Committee is to be dissolved as they have opposed moves to import and distribute drugs manufactured in Japan which claim to cure cancer, despite them not being certified by the Japanese government.
A Sunday Leader exposé last week revealed that Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake has approved the move to import the drugs from the Japanese manufacturer despite opposition from the Ayurveda Drugs Formulary Committee.
Minister Salinda Dissanayake has now cancelled a meeting which was scheduled to be held with the members of this Committee this week, a committee member told The Sunday Leader on the condition of anonymity.
He said there is strong suspicion that the members of the Ayurveda Drugs Formulary Committee will be removed and replaced by members loyal to Minister Salinda Dissanayake.
The Committee, which comprises 20 members, was scheduled to meet next Friday but Minister Dissanayake has sent a notice saying the meeting has been cancelled and a new date was not fixed.
Of the 20 members, 18 had spoken out against the new drug, the Ayurveda Drugs Formulary Committee member said.
When The Sunday Leader contacted the Secretary, Ministry of Indigenous Medicine P. D. Dahanayake, he said that he was not aware of any move to dissolve the Ayurveda Drugs Formulary Committee.
The two tablets to be imported from Japan, bearing numbers NCK-E538A and NCK-E538B have been manufactured by a company in Japan called ‘Brast Sheave’ but have not been tested or certified by the Japanese government.
He also said that he has not spoken to Minister Salinda Dissanayake regarding the drugs manufactured in Japan.
The Sunday Leader made several attempts to contact Minister Salinda Dissanayake but our attempts proved futile.
In the meantime, Dr. Hemantha Benaragama, Director of the Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority (CDDRA), told The Sunday Leader importing Western medicine must have clearance from the Ministry of Health which this particular two tablets do not have.
By Indika Sri Aravinda
Source;The Sunday Leader
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