News
Govt. hospitals compelled to ask patients to buy almost all their drugs from private sector – GMOA
Emergency procurement has put everyone at risk
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Patients seeking treatment at the state-run hospitals are asked to buy almost all medicines from the private sector, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), media spokesman, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe says.
“Now there are issues with the quality of the drugs used in government hospitals. Health staff members are also in a tight spot. We dispense the drugs the Ministry of Health sends us, and we can’t test the quality of the drugs.”
Dr. Wijesinghe said doctors and nurses were now afraid to administer drugs to patients. “If something happens to a patient, his or her friends and family blame us,” he added.
“Emergency purchases have become the order of the day. The drugs purchased under this scheme are often of low quality. The most recent example is the substandard immunoglobulin distributed to government hospitals. This is a daylight robbery. This is only one example.”
The GMOA Media Spokesman went on to say that CT, MRI and x-ray machines at government hospitals were breaking down for want of maintenance. The MRI machine at Lady Ridgeway Hospital had broken down, and children had to be transferred to the National Hospital. Getting an MRI done in the private sector was extremely expensive, he said.
Dr. Hansamal Weerasuriya, member of the GMOA Media Committee, said that the government had not taken any action against officials responsible for illegal activities. The National Audit Office had published damning reports on the drug purchases of the health sector, but nothing had been done, he said.
Dr. Weerasuriya said that the government had sought to rake in 100 billion rupees by jacking up personal taxes, but it had already made around 105 billion and was expected to collect 150 billion by the end of the year.
“So, the government can give us a break. It can target people who are actually not paying taxes. It is easy for the government to tax professionals, and that’s why the government is doing it.”
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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