UK plastic surgery team use outdated drugs - Doctors protest, ban imposed

Lakmini Rodrigo

MATARA: Fifty four plastic surgeries had been carried out using outdated drugs by United Kingdom team - 'Interplast'- at the Matara hospital. The hospital doctors discovered the stock used was outdated, Matara General Hospital Director Dr. K.I. Padmathilake said.

The Director added that the surgeries were immediately banned by him following the protest by doctors of the Matara hospital.

The group comprising 21 medical officers had arrived at the Matara hospital on May 15, and started the surgeries on May 16. A total number of 608 patients from all parts of the country had enroled to undergo plastic surgeries, Dr. Padmathilake said.

The group had carried out the surgeries until Saturday May 20, in a theatre provided by the Matara hospital and had taken Sunday off.

"On Sunday a group of our doctors who had used that theatre for our surgeries have discovered that a stock of drugs, suture material and needles used for the surgeries were outdated with expiry dates of over two to three years ago," Dr. Padmathilake explained.

According to him when asked for explanation the 'Interplast' team had claimed that the drugs were re-sterilised but had failed to provide any documents proving the statement. "I requested them to carry out the surgeries using our new drugs and equipment instead of their outdated ones, to which they agreed. But the doctors refused to assist them with the surgeries, so I was obliged to ban the surgeries with immediate effect," the doctor added.

According to Dr. Padmathilake no complaints had been received so far from the patients who had undergone the surgeries.

Though drugs could be used for about one month past their expiry date with no side effects, it could be very dangerous to use drugs that had expired years ago, he said. The doctor added that he had informed all authorities concerned regarding the use of outdated drugs and that the UK group had returned to Colombo.

"The fact that they could bring such outdated drugs to the country should definitely be looked into. The lives of patients are at risk," he added.