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Health Ministry approves home treatment for asymptomatic Covid-19 patients

Published

2 years ago

2021/06/29

The Ministry of Health has said asymptomatic COVID-19 patients can be t treated in their own homes.

The Ministry of Health has in a media statement said that a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, has led to the congestion of interim treatment centres and dedicated COVID-19 hospitals. Thus, there is a delay in admitting a COVID-19 patient to a hospital in the Western Province and several other parts of the country.

“A number of health unions including the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) have urged us to come up with a mechanism to treat some patients at home. If not, there would be increasing numbers of people who die of complications due to late hospital admissions, they warned.

Under this system, asymptomatic patients can contact a doctor via the 1390 hotline. Once a doctor is assigned to the patient, he or she will monitor the patient until he can be taken to a treatment centre.

“This will allow medical staff to focus on the priority groups like those above 60 and those with non-communicable diseases. This way we can not only manage hospital space properly but also reduce deaths.”

Around 400 doctors have been assigned to communicate with patients and monitor their progress on a daily basis.

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Sagala Ratnayaka leads Sri Lanka delegation to 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue

Published

6 hours ago

2023/06/6

Priyan

Chief of Staff to the President and National Security Advisor (NSA) Sagala Ratnayaka led the Sri Lanka delegation to the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier Security Summit held in Singapore from 2 – 4 June 2023.

The highly anticipated summit commenced on 2 June with a powerful Keynote address delivered by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Throughout the event, a series of plenary sessions delved into various crucial geo-political issues, encompassing the establishment of a stable and balanced Asia Pacific, the resolution of regional tensions, the evolution of maritime security in Asia, US leadership in the Indo-Pacific, and China’s latest security initiatives, among other topics.

During the Special Session focusing on ‘Defence Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region,’ Ratnayaka delivered an impactful statement, participating alongside representatives from India, Oman, France, and the United States. He emphasized the significance of keeping big power rivalries and external conflicts out of the Indian Ocean, highlighting Sri Lanka’s efforts in the United Nations to declare the region as a zone of peace. Furthermore, he underscored the country’s contributions to preserving freedom of navigation and over flight, stressing the crucial need for constructive dialogue among all stakeholders in the Indian Ocean region to pursue shared interests.

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Prices of sixty essential drugs to be reduced from 15th June

Published

10 hours ago

2023/06/6

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal raised by the Minister of Health to reduce the maximum retail price of 60 medicines by 16% with effect from 15.06.2023 and review the price of medicines every three months

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Cabinet approval to publish draft bill on contempt of a court, a tribunal or an institution

Published

10 hours ago

2023/06/6

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms for publishing the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman which includes the clear and precise provisions and situational circumstances regarding the offense of ‘contempt of court’ , defense and easing the penalty as well as the procedure to follow when easing the penalty, in the government gazette and subsequently to be tabled in the Parliament for its concurrence.