Expert committee appointed to report on intl. COVID-19 treatment methods

An expert committee has been appointed by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi to prepare a report on COVID-19 treatments and medicines developed internationally as well as the procurement process for these treatment methods.

According to a statement issued by the Health Ministry, the committee consists of Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) Senior Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, Health Ministry Senior Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Hasitha Tissera, and State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena.

“It has been a year and six months since the COVID-19 virus entered the world. Unlike the initial stages, research on new medicines, treatment procedures, and vaccines are nearing completion. An expert committee has been appointed to look into if these have been manufactured as per international drug regulatory recommendations anywhere in the world and present a report on it quickly,” Wanniarachchi said.

She added that measures will be taken to order any drugs, treatment procedures or vaccines recommended by the committee as soon as possible.