Jan 11, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena has ordered to suspend purchasing of all types of drugs from Biomet Pharmaceuticals of India, the Ministry officials said.

The action was taken following the discovery of a piece of broken glass in an injectable Cloxacillin vial at Colombo South Teaching Hospital.

Hospital authorities removed 600 vials supplied by the Indian manufacturer from use immediately after the discovery and the Health Ministry banned the use of the injectable antibiotic Cloxacillin in all state hospitals.

Health Minister ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident and appointed a committee to look into the matter.

The committee has decided that the discovery of a piece of glass from the vial is a serious manufacturing error and a threat to lives of patients.

The Minister took the decision to blacklist Biomet Pharmaceuticals on the recommendations of the committee appointed.

About 70 percent of the pharmaceuticals used in the country are imported from India.