Minister to face challenges of Trade Unions

AMPARA: Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said alternative measures would be taken to meet the trade union challenges in the health sector in order to provide a qualitative health service to the public, a Ministry release said.

The Minister was speaking at the commissioning of a new CT scanner at Ampara General Hospital recently. This CT Scanner valued at Rs. 450 million was donated by the I-Freed organisation comprising Sri Lankan community living in Texas and Boston, USA.

"Past regimes took stern actions to suppress trade union activities which in certain instances were a threat to the life of trade union leaders."

He said the Government will meet the unreasonable challenges of certain trade unions democratically by making permanent alternative solution in this field.

Accordingly the existing shortage of Radiographers, Pharmacists will be fulfilled before the end of this year making available the services of MLTs to the private sector too.

He said the President has instructed the health authorities to rehabilitate the health sector in the tsunami-affected districts. The CT scanner installed in the Ampara General Hospital is first of its kind available to the Eastern province.

Several local and foreign donor agencies and NGOs promised to help rehabilitate the health sector following the tsunami. Though we received aid some of the organisations and NGOs didn't fulfil their promises.

We should create an conducive environment to ensure that all such resources are properly used for the people's benefit.

It is the SLFP led governments that increased the public servants' salaries by appointing salaries committees.

Even at this moment, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed a salaries commission to look into the salary anomaly of varies sectors".

It is sad to see that despite the action taken by the President and the Government some trade unions with ulterior motives have resorted to strike action by keeping the patient as hostage.

Most of the challenges in the health sector were from the para medical services. Therefore, steps will be taken to create surplus in man power making their services available to the private sector too. 2,000 youths will be recruited before the end of this year to be trained as pharmacists and MLTs. This is in addition to over 600 para medicals who are under training under the Health Ministry.

They would be provided jobs in the public and the private sector after the training.

Plans are under way to open medical laboratory services affiliated to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation outlets in major towns, said the Minister.

"The Government could meet their challenges and ensure uninterrupted health service with these new steps", he said.

The Minister said 5,000 nurses would be recruited this year. These new recruits will be trained in the districts itself and given appointment to those hospitals permanently. Once this becomes a reality there would not be any need for transfer of nurses.

Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilake, Acting DGHS Dr. Ajith Mendis and Medical Superintendent of the Ampara Hospital Dr. Jayasingha also participated.