Epidemic of misinformation

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

Food may be in short supply, and even if it is available one may not be able to afford it; fertiliser may be in short supply until the organic revolution reaches to fruition but there are things in plenty in Sri Lanka. Lack of discipline is displayed in abundance; nurses, professions allied to medicine resorting to trade union action at the height of an epidemic, now teachers have suspended online teaching! It looks as if even the so-called caring professions did not care. How can students be expected to be well behaved when teachers flout quarantine regulations openly? But to beat it all is the proliferation of experts, resulting in an epidemic of medical misinformation. All that is needed for one to become an expert, in Sri Lanka, seems to be holding some position as the president or the secretary of a trade union or a college, and have friends in the media. The leader of the pack, undoubtedly is the Minister of Health who conveys wrong health messages. She recently went to a shrine to thank a goddess for protecting her while she was afflicted with Covid-19, which she got even after drinking a syrup she touted as a cure for the disease. Before that, she dropped pots in rivers to prevent the spread of the pandemic. There are other idiotic politicians around the world who paid with their lives for the folly of not accepting the reality of a viral pandemic. Her life was saved not by goddesses, but by the excellent doctors, nurses and other health professionals Sri Lanka is blessed with. A person who is unable to even grasp that reality, surely does not deserve to be the Minister of Health.

Looking at the list of specialists of many disciplines in the MRI, there does seem to be any dearth of virologists. Their voice is not heard. Instead there are many interviews with a former virologist who retired decades ago to take to politics. There were two effective communicators during the early stages of the epidemic; the former director of MRI was ‘rewarded’ with a demotion whilst the former DGHS got an inappropriate promotion! Then there is the head of the College of Medical Laboratory Science, who has suddenly become a specialist in epidemiology and virology as well! I can well understand his expressing opinions about testing, as that is what medical laboratory technologists do. Whilst the GMOA president-for-life seems to have taken a back seat, to indulge in Buddhist activities and trying hard to take us back to the good old days of natural cures, other office-bearers are giving expert opinions on anything but trade union matters! Public Health Inspectors seem to have forgotten that there is a category of specialists for health matters called Medical Officers of Health.

If I have hurt the feelings of the public officials rendering yeoman’s service at the time of a grave national emergency, I apologise to them. I pay my tribute to them and wish to make it clear that my criticism is of their leaders, who are read even to use a national health emergency to promote themselves. A real expert knows his or her limitations and would express opinions on their own speciality but the emerging experts in Sri Lanka seem to be know-alls!

These pseudo-experts have discussions with opinionated talk-show hosts who support one view in one programme, condemning the same in a latter programme, the discussions on the peniya being the best example. Their opinions, often erroneous, hit headlines. A vain attempt is made to get Ayurveda involved, somehow, as it is a vote-catcher! There may be a place for Ayurveda in some illnesses but it cannot play any significant role in a viral pandemic. What we need at this juncture are clear public health messages, but the people are inundated with medical misinformation.

There is no doubt this utter mess is due to lack of leadership from the government. Whilst sympathising with the government for the unprecedented challenges it is facing at the moment, neglecting effective communication cannot be excused. It is not too late yet, as the epidemic is far from over. In fact, this seems an opportune moment as the vaccination campaign seems to have gathered momentum, at last. When the country re-opens, an effective communications strategy is vital as medical misinformation can ruin all that has been achieved.

In the battle against an unknown enemy, mistakes are possible not only in Sri Lanka but in other countries around the world as well. It is vital to keep the public fully informed, explain why things are done and admit responsibility when things go wrong. This is the only way the government can restore public confidence and counter misinformation effectively.