More doctors at the Welikada Prisons Hospital are due to be transferred out as the Health Ministry investigates allegations that some hospital staff had acted “outside normal procedure” in their conduct towards certain prisoners. Accordingly, all doctors who had served at the hospital for more than four years would be transferred in the coming days, [...]

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More prison doctors to be transferred amid Health Ministry probe

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More doctors at the Welikada Prisons Hospital are due to be transferred out as the Health Ministry investigates allegations that some hospital staff had acted “outside normal procedure” in their conduct towards certain prisoners. Accordingly, all doctors who had served at the hospital for more than four years would be transferred in the coming days, Health Services Director General Dr. J.M.W. Jayasundara Bandara told the Sunday Times.

He said the transfers would be effected in line with recommendations made following a review conducted by the Health Ministry earlier this year. Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne this week ordered the transfer of the Welikada Prison’s Acting Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC), Dr Nirmali Thenuwara after a group of fellow doctors attached to the hospital made several serious allegations against her. The transfer is yet to take effect. The Health Ministry has, meanwhile, appointed a new MOIC to the Prisons Hospital and he has already assumed duties.

There has been widespread criticism that certain prisoners were being given preferential treatment at the hospital. The allegations prompted the Prison Reforms Ministry to change the procedure of admitting inmates to the Prisons Hospital.
In the past, an inmate could be admitted to the prison hospital based on the recommendation of one of the on-duty doctors. Now, it requires the recommendation of three hospital doctors and the MOIC, a Prison Reforms Ministry official explained.
He admitted there have been numerous allegations of certain prisoners with affluent backgrounds or political connections being immediately admitted to the hospital whereas other inmates were kept waiting.

“There were allegations that admitting inmates based on a single doctor’s recommendation paved the way for abuse, which is why we have now changed the procedure of admittance. Additionally, we will probe whether officials from the Department of Prisons knowingly allowed this practice to continue.”

Health Services Director General Dr Bandara said a wide-ranging investigation was required to ascertain if some Prisons Hospital doctors and officers had acted “outside normal procedure” in their conduct towards certain inmates. The Sunday Times learns the investigation is likely to be conducted by a retired Sri Lanka Administrative Service officer and a senior investigation officer from the Health Ministry.

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