Has a batch of ‘Ondansetron’ failed?

2026-02-03 - 16:19

It is reported that issues have been identified in one batch following tests conducted by the National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory in relation to the drug ‘Ondansetron’, the use of which has been temporarily suspended in Sri Lanka. It is stated that the problem has arisen in batch 24-E of the controversial drug. Reports further state that a group of officials from the Indian company Maan Pharmaceuticals Ltd, which supplied the Ondansetron injection to Sri Lanka, arrived in the country on the 19th. It is also said that their visit was to arrange for samples of the relevant medicines to be sent to an independent laboratory in Australia. However, when Sri Lanka Mirror inquired about the matter from the Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Consultant Physician Dr Ananda Wijewickrama, he stated that he had not yet received the test reports issued by the National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory in relation to the drug. He further confirmed that the samples had not yet been sent to the independent laboratory in Australia, adding that they would be dispatched within the next few days. Earlier, with regard to the situation that has arisen concerning the Ondansetron injection, its parent company, Maan Pharmaceuticals Ltd of India, had informed Sri Lankan health authorities in writing that the manufacturer was prepared to bear the full cost of these independent tests. The relevant letter had been addressed to senior health officials, including the Director General of Health Services, the Chairman of the NMRA and its Chief Executive Officer. Meanwhile, although the Ministry of Health appointed a panel of experts to investigate the deaths of two individuals following the use of the Ondansetron injection, as well as alleged complications linked to the drug, the committee has so far made no statement on the matter. The tender for the controversial injection was awarded to PTC Holdings (Private) Limited and its affiliated company, PTC Medical (Private) Limited. The directors of PTC Holdings (Private) Limited are Gihan Benaragama, Gimhana Wickramasurendra and Jaliya Wickramasurendra. More than two months have now passed since the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) suspended the use of this injection with immediate effect.