The Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) says the batch of the much-disputed drug ‘Ceftriaxone’, which caused an allergic reaction to the antibiotic that resulted in the death of a 21-year-old girl, has been withdrawn.

Speaking to the media the health chief Dr. Asela Gunawardena said the batch of the antibiotic used in the Kandy National Hospital and Peradeniya Teaching Hospital was thereby withheld after two more cases of allergic reaction were reported.

According to Dr. Gunawardena, more than 10 batches of Ceftriaxone have been distributed to multiple hospitals across the island, and are currently in use.

21-year-old Chamodi Sandeepani died while receiving treatment at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital for indigestion issues. She had been transferred to the facility from the Kotaligoda District Hospital July 11.

She had shown signs of an allergic reaction after being administered the second vial of Ceftriaxone which contained a dose of 1mg. Hospital’s director had said Sandeepani had not shown any signs of an allergic reaction after the first dose was administered.

Despite her death sparking controversy in the country, the batch of Ceftriaxone used at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital was not initially withheld as no other allergic reactions were reported, according to DGHS Dr. Gunawardena 

However, it is reported today (July 15) that two other patients who were under medical care at the Kandy National Hospital had developed allergic reactions to the antibiotic 

The health chief assured that the two patients were treated for the allergic reaction and are in good condition.