Senior Consultant Doctor Ananda Wijewickrama resigns from Covid Prevention Technical Committee

September 7, 2021 at 10:00 AM

Senior Consultant Physician at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama has reportedly resigned from the Covid Prevention Technical Committee.

According to reports, Dr. Wijewickrama has informed the Director-General of Health Services and the Secretary to the Health Ministry by email of his intention to resign.

Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama is said to have resigned due to not being able to accept certain decisions drawn by the Covid Prevention Technical Committee.

Health experts had recently shown displeasure over certain decisions taken over the vaccination programme and Covid prevention being carried out against the recommendations of the Technical Committee in an unscientific manner. 

They had also criticized the decision to provide the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to young people in the Hambantota District when it could have been used for more vulnerable categories. 

In June, the top immunologist attached to the Sri Jayewardenepura Faculty of Medical Science Prof. Neelika Manavige had also resigned from the independent vaccine advisory expert committee of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). (NewsWire)