[March 16, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian] When the humanitarian needs of the country are immense and in the north thousands of people affected by the civil war are in dire need of medical services, trauma counseling and facilities in circumstances of extreme needs, the All Ceylon Medical Officers Association (ACMOA) seem shockingly insensitive to this crying need. They are today’s Neros playing the fiddle of the insensate Red Tape or being blasé, blundering bureaucrats. We understand that the ACMOA has demanded from the government to stop the Indian Government from establishing any hospitals in Sri Lanka. The president of the ACMOA, Dr Nishanta Dasanayake addressing a media meeting said, “Handing over the establishment of a hospital at Pulmoddai by the Minister of Health of the Rajapakse Government was a violation of the country’s health regulations.”
He added that any any doctor arriving in Sri Lanka to treat patients has to register with the country’s medical council. Furthermore, he pointed out they should face and get through an examination held by the Health Council.
He claimed that there are health associations maintained in Sri Lanka and they have to follow certain principles that have been stipulated by these associations. “Despite certain lapses in supplies by the Ministry of Health, when considered regional health standards, the standard maintained by Sri Lanka are very high. The main reason for this is the dedication of health workers including doctors in hospitals in this country,” he observed.
“At present there are 13,000 doctors and nurses engaged in the health sector in the country. Last week 400 more appointments were given mostly to the Northern and the Eastern areas. In such a situation there is no necessity to get down Indian doctors and nurses to maintain a hospital in this country,” said Dr. Dasanayake.
He said when compared with the regional standards of health Sri Lanka is in the front of India and in the selection of the staff to serve in this hospital, it appears India has virtually thrust its decision on Sri Lanka. Apart from Dr. Nishantha Dasanayake, the media meeting was attended by Dr. Dhammika Pathirana, Secretary. Dr. Kaushalya Rajapakse, the treasurer of the ACMOA also participated. Some political observers view this move of India as an invasion and a means to control Sri Lanka's affairs.
Political bone-wrenching has been a major drawback to Sri Lanka’s development and progress and this has been largely responsible for the devastating problems the country has faced since independence. The attitude of the ACMOA reflects its obsessions with its own interests and its protestations to India’s help is certainly unfortunate if not ugly and goes against the very precepts of the norms and values the medical profession upholds.
The needs in the north and east are not the ordinary run of the mill health matters and wants. The situation there is extraordinary and needs all the help the government can muster. Literally thousands need urgent medical help. The ACMOA instead is taking this negative stand-off attitude.
Confronting ahead of us is a major development effort on all fronts; in fact never before the country has faced such a crisis facing us and calling us for action. It appears the officers of the ACMOA which represents the primary healers of the country are unable to appreciate this need. -Sri Lanka Guardian
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