COLOMBO, July 24 (Bernama-Xinhua) — Sri Lankan courts have imposed fines totaling 5.8 million Sri Lankan rupees (US$17,200) in 23 cases involving private hospitals and medical laboratories following investigations into expired chemicals, medicines and other consumer law violations, the country’s Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said on Friday, reported Xinhua.
The cases followed a series of island-wide raids on private hospitals, laboratories and pharmacies. Investigators found expired chemicals being used for diagnostic and laboratory tests, expired medicines being kept for patient care or sale, and laboratory fees being charged above maximum prices set by the CAA.
Authorities also detected expired chemicals stored together with unexpired stocks without proper separation, a practice the CAA said could pose risks to public health.
The largest penalty was imposed on Venus Speciality Hospital (Pvt) Ltd, which was fined Rs 3 million by the magistrate’s court of northern Sri Lankan city Jaffna on July 21.
The CAA said legal proceedings are expected against other institutions investigated during the raids. Island-wide inspections will continue to enforce consumer protection laws and safeguard public health, it added.
Members of the public have been asked to report similar violations through the CAA’s 1977 hotline during office hours.
— BERNAMA-XINHUA