UNP MP for Gampaha District Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane is demanding a fresh investigation into the blood transfusion issue after he found forty four date-expired plasmapheresis kits in a store room at the National Blood Centre on Sunday.

The National Blood Centre has been the subject of controversy over the alleged use of expired plasmapheresis kits and is being investigated by the ministry of health and the bribery and corruption commission. The Auditor General’s Department which also carried out investigations concluded it last week raising queries as to why expired items were being used for transfusions and why the National Hospital Blood Bank kept the plasmapheresis kits till they exceeded the date of expiry.

Dr. Jayawardane said he had visited the National Blood Centre in Narahenpita on Sunday when members of the public complained to him regarding the issue. "Looking through a glass paned door of what appeared to be a store room," he said he saw several cartons and that the floor beneath the cartons had been wet. "It appeared that some one had walked inside the room that morning as there were foot prints and had been on the verge of taking the cartons out of the room."

Dr. Jayawardane had then with the assistance of doctors from the NBC sealed the room and complained to the Narahenpita Police. He said the police had placed a guard outside the NBC over night. Jayawardane had visited the Health Ministry on Monday and had spoken to the Health Secretary and the Director General regarding the issue and they in turn had sent a team to the NBC to investigate the matter. The team, the MP said had discovered 21 expired plasma pheresis kits in the NBC’s store room and 23 in another which appeared to be the NBC’s switch board room. Around 11 of these kits were inside black plastic bags. There were also around 152 kits which had not expired.

However, Jayawardane held that the matter should be investigated as it is a national concern. "I don’t want anyone to bring disrepute to the profession and tarnish the image of the NBC. Dr. Jayawardane appealed to the Health Minister to intervene in the matter and ensure that such incidents do not occur again.

This is the first time the party intervened in the matter where as several trade unions affiliated to the JVP have been involved in the out dated plasmapheresis kit issue.

The director General Health Services, Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage when contacted said the ministry was waiting for the report of the inquiry carried out by the Bribery and Corruption Commission. He said Jayawardane had arrived at the Ministry to complain regarding the issue and that a team comprising the Director General Health Services, Deputy Director General Medical Services, Deputy Director General Investigations, a team of investigating officers, chief Internal Auditor, a team of auditors and Director Stock had been sent to the NBC to verify the MP’s claims. He said the health minister had asked his officials to carry out another audit into the issue. The minister wants a transparent investigation,Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Kahandaliyanage said.