It is reported that Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Ltd is still operating as a company listed with the Ministry of Health (MoH) despite selling a drug named Contrast Media (CM) to the ministry at a massive rip off price in 2023.
According to reports, the drug, which has a market price of Rs. 2,025 has been provided to the MoH at a whopping Rs. 75,628 per unit.
The matter was also raised in parliament recently by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP – Mujibur Rahman.
The MP said that 22,500 units were purchased at this exorbitant price spending a total of Rs. 1.7 billion.
He further revealed that 34,000 units of the drug was purchased from GE Healthcare Islands in the same year (2023) for just Rs. 2025.
Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Ltd is a part of the a diversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings, which holds several popular brands and chains under its umbrella such as Ran Kahata, Watawala Tea, Healthguard Pharmacy, Daintee and Zesta tea.
Mr. Vish Govindasamy is the Group Managing Director of Sunshine Holdings PLC while Mr. Shyam Sathasivam is its Group Chief Executive Officer.
CIABOC commences work Meanwhile, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an investigation into companies that had imported medicines into the country at exorbitant prices.
The investigation, which commenced under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023, is also probing a group of high-ranking officials in the health sector who had approved such transactions.
It follows a complaint filed by the President of the Medical and Civil Rights Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa.
