Following The Sunday Times editorial last week, Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva has taken immediate steps to act on the main proposals to restore a health service where the wellbeing of the patients is given top priority.
A Ministry official said he had called a meeting of top officials and others on Friday July 11 to discuss the finalization of legislation for a national medicinal drugs policy based on the essential medicines concept.
Those participating will include members of the National Standing Committee which has been working out the legislation for the National Medicinal Drugs Policy (NMDP). The Minister is also taking action to implement the Charter of Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities.
A comprehensive draft for such a Charter was submitted to the Ministry three years ago by the Peoples’ Movement for the Rights of Patients (PMRP) and the Law and Society Trust (LST) but it has been delayed for various reasons. A meeting of health rights groups has been called by the Ministry on July 24 to finalise the Charter.
The official said the Minister would also act immediately to present a Constitutional amendment to make health a fundamental right.
A draft for such an amendment was also submitted to the Ministry by the PMRP and the LST two years ago and this too was delayed.
Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told The Sunday Times it has been decided to draw up a Patients’ Charter for the first time in Sri Lanka with the support of the World Health Organization.
This would reflect the public view, he said.
“First of all there should be a series of discussions and we have to summon various groups of society from professionals to unions to the general public,” the minister said adding that introducing health as a fundamental right in the Constitution would be done in consultation with all parties. | 
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