Medical Supplies Division Director Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake and Three Others Arrested Over Immunoglobulin Import Scandal

November 20, 2023

In a key development, four individuals, including the Director of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kapila Wickramanayaka, have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection to the Immunoglobulin (IVIG) import scandal. The case revolves around serious allegations of utilizing forged documents to import a batch of human intravenous immunoglobulin from India, a violation of established procedures.

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) suspended the usage of the imported IVIG after it failed quality tests, raising concerns about its safety and efficacy. The product in question was purportedly manufactured by Livealth Biopharma Pvt Ltd. in India and was imported by a local medicine supplier named Isolez Biotech Pharma AG (Pvt) Ltd.

The CID's investigation into the matter revealed that the illicit importation involved 22,500 vials of IVIG, leading to a misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs. 130 million. The scandal has sent shockwaves through the medical community and the public, highlighting the potential risks associated with the use of substandard medical supplies.