Close on the heels of the National Blood Center, of the National Hospital coming under heavy flak for transfusing expired blood, to patients at the hospital, the Public Service Commission has directed the Health Ministry to interdict Mangalika Bindusara, Director of the National Blood Center and K. M. I. L. A. Nazeer also of the same facility.

Following the directive Health Secretary Dr. Atula Kahandaliyanage has interdicted the officials. Well informed sources said that the PSC directive has been made on a recommendation by Dr Kahandaliyanage. The sources said that several other hospitals in the provinces had also given expired blood to patients.

The latest case had been reported from Anuradhapura.

Initially, the Health Ministry had strongly defended the conduct of Dr. Bindusara despite both the print and electronic media accusing the National Blood Center of shielding the suspects.

The Ministry also transferred four minor employees of the National Blood Center who revealed negligence on the part of the hospital administration.

Authoritative sources said the Ministry in an attempt to protect Dr Bindusara had even interfered in the investigations launched by the Auditor General’s Department.

Union sources said that they expected the Government to call a police investigation as there had been waste, corruption and irregularities at the highest level of the administration.

The Ministry also claimed that the allegations leveled against the National Blood Center was a critical element in a campaign to thwart its effort to introduce a National Blood Act which would effectively prevent private hospitals from making a killing at the expense of patients.