COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has taken legal action against 23 private hospitals and medical laboratories after investigations uncovered the use and storage of expired medicines and chemicals, overcharging for laboratory services and other violations of consumer protection laws.
The CAA said courts have imposed a total of Rs 5.798 million in fines in relation to the 23 cases filed so far following a series of island-wide inspections targeting private hospitals, laboratories and pharmacies.
The investigations revealed several serious irregularities, including the use of expired chemicals in diagnostic and laboratory testing, the storage and use of expired medicines for patient care and sale, charging laboratory fees above the maximum prices prescribed by the CAA, and storing expired and unexpired chemicals together without proper segregation.
The largest penalty of Rs 3 million was imposed on Venus Speciality Hospital (Pvt) Ltd by the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court on July 21.
Lanka Hospital Diagnostics (Pvt) Ltd was fined Rs 800,000 by Colombo Magistrate’s Court on July 22, while other institutions penalized included Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC, Nawaloka Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd, Kings Hospital Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, Durdans Hospital, Durdans Medical Centre (Pvt) Ltd, Ceylon Hospital PLC, Royal Hospital (Pvt) Ltd, Cooperative Hospital MPCS, Yarl Mother Care Hospital, Wayamba Diagnostic Medical Laboratory (Pvt) Ltd, Unique Diagnostic (Pvt) Ltd and several other private healthcare providers.
The fines were imposed by magistrates’ courts in Colombo, Jaffna, Badulla, Anuradhapura, Eravur, Matara, Bandarawela and Negombo.
The CAA said legal action is expected to be initiated against additional institutions investigated during the inspections.
The Authority said island-wide raids and inspections would continue to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws and safeguard public health.
It also urged members of the public to report similar violations through its 1977 hotline during office hours.
-ENCL
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