llegal abortionists engaged in various forms of surgical abortions in and around Colombo are beginning to feel the pinch with the advent of the world’s first oral abortion pill into the Lankan milieu.
Commonly known as RU486, combination drugs Mifepristone and Misoprostol though not registered with Sri Lanka’s Drug Regulatory Authority were available to The Sunday Leader under the counter at selected pharmacies in Mattakkuliya, Slave Island, Maradana, Dematagoda and even Mariyakade.
Pharmacists speaking to The Sunday Leader on conditions of anonymity said that sales of these oral abortion pills are fast increasing.
Investigations revealed that these ‘oral abortion tablets’ are now being used to terminate pregnancies which are below nine weeks, thereby pushing surgical abortions into a procedure of the bygone era.
Combination drugs – one tablet of Mifepristone on the first day and four tablets of Misoprostol on the fourth day – work towards cutting off the supply of the essential hormone progesterone to the fetus and the second drug (Misoprostol) works towards ejecting the fetus.
One tablet of Mifepristone and four tablets of Misoprostol comprising a single dose are being sold at pharmacies in Colombo for approximately Rs.10,000. Investigations however revealed that they may actually cost less than Rs. 500.
Dr. Hemantha Beneragama, Director, Drug Regulatory Authority of Sri Lanka when contacted by The Sunday Leader said that these drugs are not registered with the Authority.
“There were requests for registration. We are aware of the abuse and risk factors,” said Dr. Beneragama who went on to say that officers have been deployed to check on pharmacies selling these ‘unregistered drugs.’
When The Sunday Leader contacted well-known Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the National Hospital and the De Soysa Maternity Hospital, Dr. Hemantha Dodanpala who is also Consultant to several institutions and Senior Lecturer at the Medical Faculty Colombo, he said that he is concerned about the accelerated abuse of these drugs in Sri Lanka.
Insisting that Mifepristone and Misoprostol are not routine ‘over the counter’ drugs, Dr. Hemantha Dodanpala went on to say that they have to be prescribed and administered by specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology after a detailed clinical and ultrasound evaluation of the foetus, confirming the death of a foetus, and went on to say that it should not even be prescribed and administered by junior medical personnel.
“These drugs are being used in developed countries and have very specific uses. If a woman comes after bleeding and she has miscarried then the administration of Mifeprostone and Misprostol may cause evacuation hence preventing a surgical intervention which may have disastrous consequences and possible infections. A surgical procedure may involve anaesthesia, complications regarding anaesthesia and subsequent bleeding and possible perforation of the uterus.
“Such a situation may also warrant a long stay in hospital. In such instances these drugs will help to ease the trauma, eliminate the complications and also help cut down costs of a long stay in hospital,” pointed out Dr. Dodanpala.
He went on to say that these are not drugs to ‘kill the baby’, but observed with concern that this may be happening in Sri Lanka with abuse and that illegal abortions are being conducted by some unscrupulous sections using Mifeprostone and Misoprostol to kill, soften and eject living babies.
“This drug is not for ladies with ‘unwanted pregnancies’ and certainly not meant for doctors to perform abortions for the greed of money,” opined the doctor.