SL pharma company says court-appointed committee clears it of alleged wrongdoing
View(s):Omacx Healthcare (Pvt) Ltd which was suspended by the Health Ministry pending an inquiry on November 13, 2013 regarding an alleged fraud of pilfering an oncology drug named Oncaspar from the Maharagama National Cancer Institute and re-selling it to the Government Medical Supply Division has been cleared and exonerated by a court appointed 3-member independent committee headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court , a spokesman for the company said at a media briefing held in Colombo this week.
Company director Nuwan Chamara Fonseka said the adverse publicity created in the media affected the image and a reputation of the company. “We on our own initiative had to then seek legal assistance to restore the credibility of the company at costly litigation. The idea was to determine the truth and expose our competitors who tarnished the company. Subsequently we filled action in the Court of Appeal challenging the suspension of the company. Thereafter the court directed the appointment of a 3-member independent committee headed by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court and two top health ministry officials to probe allegations that oncology drug Oncaspar was stolen from the National Cancer Institute and resold to the Health Ministry through the government Medical Supply Division”.
He said more than 20-25 persons were summoned by the committee to give evidence over a period of nearly one year. “The independent committee held 22 sessions and finally exonerated Omacx of any wrongdoing. In fact the committee exhaustively questioned these persons regarding the allegations,” Mr. Fonseka said.