Minister takes health services flying squad to the cleaners

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday came down hard on the health services flying squad and urged the new recruits to this elite unit to fulfil their duties by ensuring the utmost secrecy prior to raids.

"You must get away from the existing practice where culprits receive prior warning before a raid. Before the flying squad officials arrive on the spot, they (culprits) get to know of the impending swoop. This is because officials have failed to maintain secrecy." Minister de Silva yesterday told at a ceremony to mark the handing over of permanent appointments to 500 graduates at the New Town Hall auditorium, under the graduate recruitment scheme of the UPFA Government.

Out of the 500 graduates, 415 were given permanent appointments as Development Assistants, 50 as mental health officers, 60 public coordinating assistants and 25 bio medical engineering assistants. Out of the total number of Development Assistants, 50 will be deployed to the investigating unit to crack down on malpractices at hospitals.

Minister de Silva stressed that those recruited to the flying squad should conduct their investigations countrywide to examine whether the doctors and other health workers are performing their duties. "You must work with great dedication on this job. You must exercise the law and take action against anyone found guilty irrespective of the persons and their designations."

The Minister called on the new recruits to render a satisfactory and equal service to the general public of this country. "People of this country have greatly contributed towards the education provided to you. Therefore, you have a great responsibility to serve the general public and to solve their problems."

He explained that health sector employees should not confine their services to air-conditioned rooms. "Therefore, deviating from the traditions, you must take effective measures to solve problems of the people. You must take steps to implement a people-friendly service."

Minister de Silva explained that the Government decision to recruit 40,000 graduates was to resolve the existing shortcomings in the public sector and further strengthening it. "Public officials should honour principles and they must think about others, other than themselves. You must duly perform your duties without bowing to the dictates of the trade unions, "he stressed.