A large quantity of drugs was discovered blocking a cesspit at the Panadura Base Hospital. The Health Ministry said they would send a team to investigate the discovery.

Health Ministry sources said yesterday (08) that hospital workers had examined a cesspit which was overflowing with water due to a block and on emptying it discovered a large quantity of drugs in it.

Quoting the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, they said that approximately 3,000 tablets had been discovered when hospital minor workers had emptied the cesspit. The drugs were very similar to Paracitamol but slightly larger in size. However, the drug was yet to be identified.

A team will be sent to the Panadura Hospital to investigate and establish whether it was sabotage.

The Ministry was faced with a dilemma due to complaints of drug shortages in several hospitals in the island. Many persons accused the Health Ministry of being incompetent due to the shortage of drug, sources said.