Discipline vital for success - Healthcare Minister
Nadira Gunatilleke
Health Care and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva observed
that discipline was a sine qua non for success in the development
sphere.However it is a matter for regret that those who claim to be
educated are wanting in discipline.
"Our Security Forces are fighting the terrorists to safeguard the
territorial integrity and suffer injuries and when they try to uphold
discipline. But some get injured due to lack of discipline.", Minister
De Silva said.
He was addressing the first anniversary celebration of the Trauma
Secretariat of the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry held at the
Galadari Hotel, Colombo on Wednesday.
He said the patient care service of the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital
has been on hold for almost two weeks due to lack of discipline among
nurses and doctors. "They fight for a ten by ten room and it cannot be
divided to two parts because it is too small. If the room is reserved
for doctors the nurses go on strike on the following day and the doctors
do the same if it is given to nurses".
"Since both parties did not want to compromise, as the Minister I
have to stand in the middle and watch which reminds me of the popular
Sinhala idiom `Maga hitiyoth tho nasi, gedara giyoth ambu nasi'(If you
do not go home and stop on your way, you will be killed, if you go home,
your wife will be killed). Both parties fight like cats and dogs for a
ten by ten room and now the matter is in courts.", the Minister pointed
out.
Their discipline can be measured by their acts such as removing the
oxygen supply of dying patients and hiding essential drugs. "When I try
to discipline the health staff some people blame me and when the nurses
and doctors go for each other I get blamed again. Now I have to question
what I should do as the Healthcare and Nutrition Minister", the Minister
stated.
The lack of radiologists also shows the level of discipline we have
in the academic side of the health sector. All the other colleges hold
examinations twice a year, but, when it comes to the institute which
produces radiologists, it holds examinations only once a year, resulting
in a long waiting list to enter this institute and get the required
qualifications while the innocent patients suffer without adequate
number of radiologists. This is being done purposely in order to
maintain the demand for radiologists, the Minister stressed. |