Islandwide raids have caught dozens of private healthcare providers storing and using expired medicines and chemicals.

Legal action by Sri Lanka’s Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has resulted in courts penalizing 23 private hospitals and medical laboratories a total of Rs. 5,798,000 in fines across 23 cases filed so far.

The investigations targeted private hospitals, laboratories, and pharmacies, uncovering several serious irregularities that could pose risks to public health.

Inspectors detected the use of expired chemicals for diagnostic and laboratory testing, alongside keeping expired medicines for patient care and sale.

Facilities were also found charging laboratory fees above the CAA’s maximum prescribed prices and failing to properly segregate expired chemicals from unexpired ones during storage.

The Jaffna Magistrate’s Court handed down the highest single penalty on July 21, fining Venus Speciality Hospital (Pvt) Ltd Rs. 3 million.

In Colombo, Magistrate’s Court No. 5 fined Lanka Hospital Diagnostics (Pvt) Ltd Rs. 800,000 on July 22.

Courts in Colombo, Badulla, Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Eravur, Matara, Bandarawela, and Negombo also penalised other major institutions.

These included Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC, Nawaloka Laboratories, Kings Hospital Colombo, Durdans Hospital, Ceylon Hospital PLC, Royal Hospital, and several other private facilities.

Specific court actions included:

Kings Hospital Colombo (Pvt) Ltd & Durdans Hospital: Fined Rs. 100,000 each by Colombo Magistrate’s Court No. 05 on July 15.

Heladiwa Healthcare Center, Union Medi Lab, Mohotti Medi Lab, & New Logic Laboratory: Fined Rs. 7,000 each by Matara Magistrate’s Court on July 15.

Ceylon Hospital PLC: Fined Rs. 50,000 by Negombo Magistrate’s Court on July 16.

Durdans Medical Center (Pvt) Ltd, Nawa Suwa Sewana Private Hospital, Lanka Hospital Diagnostics (Pvt) Ltd, Royal Hospital (Pvt) Ltd, Wayamba Diagnostic Medical Laboratory (Pvt) Ltd, & Unique Diagnostic (Pvt) Ltd: Fined Rs. 100,000 each by Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court on July 17.

Cooperative Hospital MPCS: Fined Rs. 200,000 by Eravur Court on July 17.

Asiri Hospital Holdings & Ravindu Laboratory: Fined Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively by Badulla Magistrate’s Court on July 20, alongside Ceylon Hospital PLC which was fined Rs. 400,000.

Yarl Mother Care Hospital: Fined Rs. 100,000 by Jaffna Magistrate’s Court on July 21.

Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC & Nawaloka Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd: Fined Rs. 100,000 each by Colombo Magistrate’s Court No. 05 on July 22.

Aloka Diagnosis Laboratory: Fined Rs. 10,000 by Bandarawela Magistrate’s Court on July 22.

The CAA expects to take legal action against additional institutions that were investigated.

Islandwide inspections and raids will continue to enforce consumer protection laws and safeguard public health.

Members of the public can report similar irregularities to the CAA hotline at 1977 during office hours.