The Health Ministry has withdrawn a cabinet paper that sought permission to import 37 varieties of medicines from India through direct contracting.
Minister Ramesh Pathirana submitted the paper 24/1673/610 on 13 August.
Health sector trade unions alleged attempts to buy the medicines without registration with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority.
On 30 August, Pathirana assured to the media that no substandard or unregistered medicine would be procured.
Thereafter, the ministry informed the cabinet office that the paper would be withdrawn, according to aruna.lk.
