Rajitha: NMRA politicised; Chinese jab not tested here before approval

The SJB says the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has been politicized.

 Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office on Thursday, SJB MP Dr Rajitha Senaratne said that the decision to approve the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine, manufactured by China was an indication of the political influence on the NMRA administration.

The former Health Minister said the Chinese vaccine had not been subjected to any tests before being approved for use in Sri Lanka. 

The World Health Organization itself was yet to grant approval for the use of the Sinopharm vaccine, Dr Senaratne said, adding that the NMRA had been established by him and the Act pertaining to the authority had been formulated in consultation with various experts

Dr Senaratne said experts had been allowed to appoint suitable candidates to the NMRA Board. Prof. Lal Jayathileka was appointed as the Chairman and Professor Krishantha Weerasuriya the CEO.

 “The NMRA used to be headed by professors of pharmacology so that authority had the expertise to act according to its mandate. Check the qualifications of those being appointed now so anyone can understand the truth.”

The ex-Health Minister said the matter would be raised in Parliament soon in order to safeguard the public, who he asserted would be severely affected as a result of the decisions being taken by the NMRA.

Dr. Senaratne said the NMRA was announcing programmes that had already been passed by the Cabinet under the former Government as fresh projects.