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| Tuesday, 11 September 2001 |
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Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries
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Religious leaders and all national minded, patriotic and progressive masses have welcomed with great enthusiasm the agreement reached between the PA and the JVP which put an end to the conspiracy of the anti-national forces financed by the terrorists and drug mafias, and led by the reactionary UNP. The new arrangement was long overdue since both the PA and the JVP represent the same class, characterized by many political commentators as the children of 1956, who were liberated from the shackles of reactionary oppression by the people’s revolution in 1956. Both groups suffered innumerable hardships and near annihilation under the 17 years State terror of the repressive, rogue UNP regime. The new unity could certainly strengthen the national forces for the benefit of the poor majority, defeat separatism and reawaken the masses to consolidate their rights. However, we should be more vigilant now than ever as history has proved in Chile and many other countries that the reactionary and capitalist forces become more conspiratorial and agile when they face a combined threat to their interests. We should not expect that the Sri Lankan Pinochet, Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cohorts would observe silence, lie down and accept defeat voluntarily. He has already hinted about his vicious motives. Addressing the UNP parliamentary group at the Parliament complex, he has said that if the PA-JVP government was allowed to rule, people would suffer immensely. By this statement he has explicitly requested the UNP Parliamentarians that this Government should not be allowed to rule. The same disappointment and displeasure had been expressed by terrorist proxies - the TULF and TELO. In the meantime, the media mafia too has initiated their diatribe against the new union castigating that the JVP has no solution for the war. This is a precursor to the vile propaganda campaign to be unleashed by the media mafia fostered by the reactionary family bandits. Very soon the NGO mudalalis too would join hands with the above consortium of reactionaries, terrorists and media mafia to level their criticism against the new alliance. The constituent parties in the PA, the JVP and all peace loving, patriotic masses should unite against the combined forces of reactionaries which would make all attempts to reverse the new found unity and plunge this nation to the abyss of anarchy. A.A.M.NIZAM There are several pickpockets with black polythene bags board buses from many points on Galle Road from Moratuwa to Pettah. Many commuters have complained to the Police that they had lost their purses and their handbags. These light fingered men sit among the commuters and offer their seats to others and pick their pockets by covering the commuters’ faces with their black polythene bags. This ruse is commonly prevalent in all buses. Most of these pickpockets are dressed in trousers and partnered by sarong johnies in crowded buses. The conductors and drivers are aware to these pickpockets but fear to demand the fares. Most of the commuters have fallen victim and had lost valuable documents plus money. It is in the hands of the Police to arrest these culprits and it can be easily done through Police Division wise. A.M.M. REYAL The whole country was watching with interest the outcome of the episode where the food allegedly supplied by a cafeteria managed by a leading star class hotel for the annual dinner organised by the GMOA was affected by ‘Salmonella Bacteria’. According to newspaper reports, the whole of Exco and a large number of specialist doctors had been treated for diarrhoea as a result. The citizens of this country expected the GMOA to act in the interest of public health instead of treating this incident as a personal matter that had affected only the GMOA and take whatever steps including legal action to protect the general public in future from this type of careless attitude by the hoteliers. This is relevant especially to the BMICH since it is patronised by a large segment of general public during exhibitions, seminars, auction sales, examinations, film and art shows. This may not be an isolated incident since even on earlier occasions this type of a situation may have gone unnoticed since the hapless public of this country are helpless in such situations. Also running a restaurant without a legal permit from the CMC for more than a decade in itself is a heinous act and deserves a separate inquiry. The people of this country expects from the main body which is responsible for providing health services to them to lead the way and set an example to fight this type of health hazards. This incident has been an eye opener and should pave the way to maintain high standards in all the hotels in the country. But what happened at the end had dismayed the public since according to the newspapers, the GMOA had come to an amicable settlement with the hoteliers concerned by recovering the Rs. 500.00 paid by each doctor and accepting an undertaking to provide catering free of charge in the next annual dinner. Meanwhile the same caterer is carrying on regardless. Suppose at the next annual dinner, the “Salmonella” appears again, what then would the GMOA do? We are sure that the members of the noble medical profession would honour the “Hippocratic Oath” which bind them. A.C.C. I wish to thank the Very Rev. Father Sydney Knight for his letter (DN Aug. 21). The ultimate cancellation of the Referendum should necessarily depend upon the consensus the President hopes to muster and not on the Government’ is present plight. Whatever is the outcome the President’s relentless efforts through the past seven years of her rule to find a solution to the bloody ethnic war is praiseworthy in no uncertain terms. The reference made by Rev. Father Knight, in his letter, to the panellist who at a recent forum on national reconciliation recalling Lincon’s definition of democracy and asked whether we ever had parliamentary democracy in our country, needs some analysis. According to him (panellist) the democracy we have is the government by the majority, for the majority and of the majority. Is this majority the Sinhala majority, a political party majority or the majority of a group of political parties with a leader who can command the confidence of the House of Parliament. It has to be accepted that, whatever or whoever is the majority, it is the working arrangement in a democracy where all the people cannot govern all the people, for all the people. Is this not the system prevailing in other democracies of the world. If so, there is nothing obnoxious in it. It becomes so only when the Rev. Father contends that the successive governments in the past have given “the cosmetic appearance” of having members in governments representing the minorities. Who are these minorities? They are those communal minded sections of the society who, by reason of forming separate political parties, identifiable with the respective communities, perpetuate segregation into minorities. It is worse when one community forms more than one such political party. In point of fact, the Sinhalese have different political parties segregated by different political, economic and social thinking, e.g. UNP, SLFP, CP, LSSP, JVP, NLSP etc. There are in these parties the Tamils, the Muslims, the Burghers etc. serving their communities through participation with either the governing political party or with the opposition political parties. Don’t they serve their respective communities? If, for national reconciliation, as the Rev. Father states, the South must speak with one common voice, with which the majority of the people in Sri Lanka agree, all the proponents must pressurize the United National Party, to stop, in the name of God, their dodging morality which it demonstrated in the past and sincerely participate in the drafting of a new constitution in the months ahead and get it through the Parliament to put an end to the LTTE carnage and accelerate the economic and social development of the whole country. JOE FERNANDO Doctors and pharmaceutical industry Discussing the relationship of doctors with the pharmaceutical industry is currently a global phenomenon. The pharmaceutical industry produces an intimately connected item in the practice of medicine, namely the drugs. On the other hand the pharmaceutical industrialist has an obstacle between him and his customer, namely the doctor. He by-passes the doctor with the drugs that can be dispensed without the prescription, known as over the counter products (OTC products) in pharmaceutical jargon. As far as the drugs that need prescriptions for dispensing or perspiration only medicines (POM) the doctors prescriptions are important. It is natural for the industrialist to try to influence the doctor in these circumstances. As far as influencing the doctor takes place at the ethically acceptable level no problem will exist. Dr. Sarath Gamini Silva, a much respected senior consultant physician attached to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, in his article “Doctors and Pharmaceutical Industry: A Conflict of Interest” published on 4.8.2001 dealt with many aspects of the Sri Lankan scenario of this relationship. In Sri Lanka the State does little or nothing towards up dating the professional knowledge of the doctors. We have about twenty medical associations and colleges in Sri Lanka. They keep on up dating the professional knowledge of their members quite actively. The doctors organising themselves in this manner is praiseworthy. However all these activities are sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. This explains the silence of medical associations and colleges about any malpractices in the pharmaceutical industry. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) is the most powerful out of these. Once it went on strike when the Director of the Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) was sent on transfer. The transfer was cancelled. They are silent about the current questionable omissions or commissions of the DRA which contributes to chaos in the pharmaceutical market putting the pharmaceutical industry in an advantageous position. When I was the President of the Independent Medical Practitioners Association, I exposed alleged corrupt practices of drug firms despite their sponsoring events for the Association. My action was subject to criticism by at least a few members of the medical profession. This minority was however very aggressive in showing their displeasure. They used the same armoury used in cheap party politics of Sri Lanka like anonymous letters, anonymous faxes and creating splits in the Association. All major events in medical associations and colleges are sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical companies try to out-do each other when sponsoring these events. As a result some events are held in five star hotels with cocktails served after the event followed by a sumptuous dinner. Sometimes free gifts are doled out at the meetings. The non medical spouses who has nothing to do with the academic activity too are invited. The century old Sri Lanka Medical Library too, is currently run by a multinational drug company. The passage leading to the library is decorated with advertisements from this company. This company took over the management of the library when it was on the verge of being closed due to financial problems. All drugs for health camps conducted by some doctors are provided by the pharmaceutical industry. Most of medical research projects are funded by drug firms. Under the circumstances some doctors jutisfy their “under obligation” feeling towards the pharmaceutical industry. This feeling is not towards the best interest of the patients. Some committees of medical associations having influence in taking decisions at national level, is sometimes influenced by drug firms. Even employees of some firms are in these committees. Communicable diseases committee of one medical association has an employee of a drug firm dealing with vaccines! A publication of this committee meant for the medical profession was printed by the drug firm. The launch of the booklet took place in a five star hotel. The publication has the potential of influencing vaccine prescribing pattern of the doctors. The drug firm is the sole importer of some of the vaccines mentioned in the booklet. This is an example to show to what extent the pharmaceutical industry infiltrate into professional activities of the medical profession. I do not blame the drug firm concerned. It is simply wisely exploiting the situation to promote their products. The pharmaceutical industry sometimes offer a very personal favours to doctors. When a doctor is induced as the president of an association or a college or delivers an oration it is traditional for him to host the gathering at a reception. This is very frequently sponsored by a drug firm. Thus the drug firm gets a powerful medical personality with high lobbying power into their favour. Many pharmaceutical companies offer gifts of liquor to doctors and deliver Christmas hampers to them. At least one pharmaceutical company exists which provide tyres for vehicles, provide toilet suits, do up floors of houses with tiles or granite and, sponsor weddings of offspring of doctors. Majority of doctors do not accept any personal favour from drug firms. Many drug firms do not offer unethical gifts or favours even when demanded by doctors. It is nothing but fair to keep public informed about what goes on between doctors and pharmaceutical industry. My candid articulation on the subject should not be regarded as “washing dirty linen in public”. Valid criticism by public should be seriously considered by both medical profession and pharmaceutical industry. This will lead to a process of self improvement beneficial to the medical profession, pharmaceutical industry and to the public.DR. B.G.D. BUJAWANSADehiwala South St. Anthony’s College, Kandy - a unique sporting institution I wonder whether any of the readers are aware that in times of national racial intolerance, St. Anthony’s College, Kandy has become a pioneer of inter-racial amity through the most popular sport of our country cricket. In our country St. Anthonys College has become the only school to have produced cricketers of all religious faiths, and those belonging to all racial groups, to have represented Sri Lanka in cricket at the national level. In the 1930s an Antonian belonging to the burgher community named Jack Anderson established a batting record for the schools playing against S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia. It was the match when Thomian supporters unable to weather the Antonian attack which comprised the batting of Jack Anderson encouraged P. Saravanamuttu for the Thomians by shouting era! Sara era! A memorable innings by the Thomians. In the 1950s Mohammed Lafir a Muslim from St. Anthony’s College opened batting for the Sri Lanka national team. Again in the late 1970s Mahes Goonatilake a Sinhalese Buddhist from St. Anthony’s College kept wickets for the Sri Lanka cricket team. In the late 1980s a Sinhalese Catholic Bernard Perera of St. Anthony’s opened batting for the national cricket team. Then came the spinning wizard Muttiah Muralitharan a Tamil Hindu from St. Anthony’s, Kandy still blazing a trail of bowling excellence in the national cricket team. St. Anthony’s College, Kandy is one of the few institutions to have regular fixtures with Colombo schools being situated in the outstations. How far St. Anthony’s College will produce eminent sportsmen of national importance will depend on authorities who promote sports in the outstations and those in charge of sports at St. Anthony’s. MIRAN PERERA The CMC staff is now going around the city sticking Green Stars on houses that they consider as dengue free. Strange to note that right in front of the houses that are considered dengue free are drains maintained by the C.M.C. that are stagnant with putrid water breeding mosquitoes. The rate-payers and residents should be given large Black Stars with space for the date to be placed at all points where remedial action required by the CMC. Authority must also be given to the residents to take legal action if no action is taken within a month. Has the M.O.H., C.M.C. walked into the CMC canteen and seen for himself the sorry state this is in.?Why does he not start there and also at the CMC Medical Centre in Slave Island? C. R. The general public and the environmentally concerned are dismayed that the proposed implementation of the ‘ban’ on GM foods has been further postponed. As reported in the daily printed media the health authorities are supposed to be concerned about requests made by ‘friendly countries’ that the ‘ban’ may affect trade relations etc. and that they would not like to hurt them. I wonder how one could consider them as ‘friendly countries’ when they are requesting us to blindly run the risk of poisoning ourselves and the environment! I am compelled to say that “with friends like this who needs enemies”!! The primary concern of health authorities should be the health of the general public and not finding ways of circumventing weaknesses in the law to please people with vested interests. On what moral or ethical argument can anybody force the unsuspecting public to consume GM foods when the jury is still out there? When responsible bodies such as the WHO, FAO and the British Medical Association have expressed their reservations over the use of GM foods it is indeed unwise, irresponsible and to say the least indiscreet on the part of our health authorities to delay imposing the ‘ban’ forthwith. GM food production entails artificial manipulation of genes through physical or chemical processes which are forced on the organism and not brought about by natural selection. Hence the subject GM foods has evoked much debate over the last decade or so. Many articles have also appeared in the local lay press highlighting the dangers of bringing in of GM foods over which the world has little experience and we have very little control. The introduction of ‘terminator’ genes, contamination of ‘wild relatives’ leading to creation of ‘super weeds’, development of acquired resistance by insect populations, harmful effects on beneficial insects etc. are some of the devastating genetic consequences in the long term while creation of foods to which more people could be allergic, introduction of antibiotic marker genes etc. would directly have a bearing on human health. I would like to conclude with a statement of ominous portent made by the Director General of the FAO: “GM organisms, like all the new technologies, are instruments that can be used for good and the bad in the same way that they can be democratically managed to the benefit of the most needy or skewed to the order of specific groups that hold the vital political, economic and technological power.” Let not our health authorities be cajoled into accepting what may turn out to be more than a Trojan horse until all checks and balances are in place. The appointment of a committee chaired by the respected Professor Rohan Jayasekera is most welcome but the ‘ban’ should be made effective with immediate effect without waiting for the outcome of this committee’s report. The consumer should never be deprived of the right to know what GM food is by appropriate labelling and also never denied the option to choose what he pleases to eat. DR. NANDA AMARASEKARA The above Report is being published in instalments in a daily newspaper (not of Lake House group). So far what they have published, is an attempt to bring in religious strife between Sinhala Buddhists and Sinhala Christians. Therefore, all right-thinking Sinhala Buddhists & Christians would whole-heartedly agree with Minister Mangala Samaraweera, that it is only fit for the ‘Dust-bin’. LVCDES
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