The ten-member committee which investigated incidents of injection phials with pieces glass in them in several hospitals has recommended the blacklisting of three drug companies for two years. Informed sources of the Health Ministry said yesterday (04) that stringent action was to be taken against these companies and that their drugs would be banned in the local market for two years.

The companies would have to provide a certification of Basic Medical Practices (BMP) within the twenty four months. The blacklisted companies are; Belco Pharma (Pethidine), U-Medical Laboratories Private Limited (Hydrocortizone Sodium Succinate) and Kilitch Drugs India Limited (Cefuroxine). The remaining batches of the injection phials would be withdrawn from government health institutions. The manufacturers agreed to reimburse the money to the Ministry.

Recommendations for Mercury Laboratories manufacturer of Promethacin are yet to be submitted, they said.

The discoloured Anti Snake Venom Serum discovered at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital was attributed to a technical error in the Hospital ward. The serum had not been placed under correct temperature when it had been handed to the ward by the hospital. However, the manufacturer of the Serum, India Vins Biotech has agreed to provide a new batch free of cost.