Committee to recommend legal structure for Health Structure

A Committee has been appointed by the Government to define and recommend an appropriate legal structure for the proposed Health Tribunal appointed to investigate health sector complaints.

Government Spokesman and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said in the light of frequent complaints of negligence on the part of health sector employees, the committee is expected to fill in the gap for a Competent Authority to carry out comprehensive investigations into incidents of negligence and injustices.

"The Committee will ensure justice for both parties - the complainant and the accused," the Minister stressed adding that there was a practice of passing judgements through the media which he though was unfair in certain instances.

The Cabinet has approved the appointment of the committee on Wednesday. "Currently these complaints are received by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) but they lack the capacity and thus the investigations are delayed," the minister observed.

The Committee will comprise a member each from the Ministries of Law and Order and Judiciary Reforms, SLMC, Attorney General's Department, Public Services Commission, Legal Draughtsman and the GMOA and is Chaired by the Health Sector Director General. They are required to submit a report of recommendations within 90 days.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved the long awaited Private Medical Institution Acts to be presented in Parliament.

The landmark Bill proposes to safeguard rights of the patients who seek medical services from the private medical institutes. It gives powers to the State to ensure necessary standards are maintained with regard to laboratories, pharmacies and staff in the private sector.

MF and RW