Letters to the Editor
View(s):The people expect more from the Minister and Health authorities
Considering the recent incidents of the deaths of some patients who were admitted to Government hospitals it is becoming more and more obvious that the authorities seem to be undermining the quality of medicines procured resulting in drugs of questionable quality being used to treat patients.
A recent article headlined “Dangerous trend in the health sector” appearing in the Sunday Times of July 9th describes the plight of the health sector.
It says: “As medical procurement controversies continue to plague the health sector State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) instructed the regulator to waive registration for high priced Insulin from Ukraine to be purchased on an emergency basis without tender….. scores of medication now being obtained for public health service, without thorough vetting. Legally, waivers of registration – whereby the drugs are waived through by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) without stringent legally mandated checks for quality are only permitted under exceptional circumstances.”
In a recent speech in Parliament the Minister for Health is reported as saying that all who get admitted to hospital for treatment do not come out alive and that is why florists/undertakers have located their offices in front of hospitals.
By this statement, does it seem as if the health and healing of the people is not his primary concern, and he expects people to succumb to their illnesses rather than be healed?
It is indeed shocking to hear this statement from a person from whom we expect more responsibility holding as he does a prestigious position as the Minister of Health.
The people and those who voted him to power look to the Government hospitals to render an exemplary service with reliability in the quality of medicines dispensed.
Due to the unfortunate situation in the deterioration of standards in all areas of service of the Ministry of Health, and with the controversies raging in the medical sector, the people especially the poor, are left high and dry with nowhere to turn to obtain relief for their physical ailments.
Safeguarding the wellbeing of the population and the institutions that are established to promote and maintain the health of the people should be the priority of the Health authorities.
Ridley Casie Chitty Via email
What a surprise! Lost and found after nearly a month
On June 13, I lost my wallet while I was medically examined for prostrate enlargement at the Nawaloka Hospital. The loss had apparently taken place while I hurriedly changed over to a sarong and my trouser was stuffed into a bag that was with my son. Upon returning home, I realised the absence of my wallet and made telephonic enquires with the nursing and janitorial staff at the hospital but to no avail.
However, on July 11, almost a month later, to my astonishment, I received a phone call from one of the nurses at the hospital enquiring if I had lost a wallet on my visit to the hospital, and upon verification of the date, colour and contents therein, she told me that it had been found. I was asked to call over and collect it from the Guard Room where she had left it with instructions to hand it over to me.
This was a pleasant surprise to me and I rushed to the hospital and collected it. What is unbelievable yet true is that the wallet was intact. The money count, as I could remember, of nearly Rs. 7000, plus my two ATM cards and other memorabilia were all there, untouched.
I could never imagine this would happen in Sri Lanka at a time when everybody is going through a difficult time financially. It is heartening to note that there are good people still around in the country who take a lot of pains to return lost property to its rightful owner.
Given the above, I take this opportunity to offer a bouquet of thanks and record my appreciation to the nursing staff at the Nawaloka Hospital for their honesty, trustworthiness and commitment to the organisation they serve. It is commendable that they have gone out of the way to find me even though I had left no name or phone number on the wallet. On my part, I will remember them in my prayers and beseech the Lord to bless them and spare them the pain of ever losing their valuables.
Nihal Fernando Moratuwa
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