health
GSK funds National Surveillance Project
A national surveillance on microbial resistance to antibiotics, an
emerging problem worldwide, has been launched in Sri Lanka by the Sri
Lanka College of Microbiologists, with funding from GlaxoSmithKline
Pharmaceuticals (GSK).
President Elect Dr Preethi Perera, Secretary Dr Kushlani
Jayatilleke and President of the Sri Lanka College of
Microbiologists Dr Sagarika Samarasinghe, Managing Director
Stuart Chapman, Medical Advisor Dr Lucian Jayasuriya and
Marketing Manager of GSK Roger Talayaratne. |
The four-year project costing Rs 10.3 million, seeks to establish an
identification system for widely prevalent bacterial pathogens and their
resistance patterns, and to harmonise the different methods in use for
antibiotic sensitivity testing (ABST) into the universally-accepted CLSI
(Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) method.
“Epidemiological information on resistance patterns is scarce in our
country due to the poor facilities for proper identification of
infectious agents to the species level,” explained President of the Sri
Lanka College of Microbiologists (SLCM) Dr. Sagarika Samarasinghe.
“Although clinical information on antibiotic resistance is released,
the existing limitations in identification of species, diminishes the
epidemiological importance of this information.”
In order to generate national data leading to accurate and
epidemiologically valid information, one standard method for antibiotic
sensitivity testing would have to be practised by all the microbiology
laboratories involved in this project and this method could thereafter
be introduced to the whole country, she said. “Therefore, the focus of
the National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Project would be to
improve the identification systems and introduce a universally-accepted
method for ABST,” Dr Samarasinghe said.
As part of the project, the College of Microbiologists plans to
establish a National Data Bank on antibiotic resistance and promote
further research on the subject, she disclosed.
Speaking at the presentation of the first tranche of GSK’s funding
for this project, GSK Pharmaceuticals’ Managing Director in Sri Lanka
Stuart Chapman said: “As the world’s leading research-based
pharmaceuticals and vaccines company, GSK is committed to contributing
significantly to the base of medical knowledge worldwide, through
initiatives in every country in which it operates. We believe this
project will generate invaluable information that would lead to more
affective treatment of infectious diseases in Sri Lanka.”
The College of Microbiologists also plans to obtain membership of the
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, the global non-profit
standards developing organisation that is the WHO Collaborating Centre
for Clinical Laboratory Standards and Accreditation.
‘All herbal health supplements should be proved authentic’ -
Professor Gunaratne
“As Chairman State Pharmaceutical Corporation I had a duty and a
responsibility to answer the charges that “Samahan” was having steroids
added that was harmful to human health when taken without any medical
supervision. Fortunately by 1997 we had established testing facilities
at our corporation and I had Samahan samples collected from the market
for testing.
I assure you, our testing proved that Samahan did not have any
chemical steroids in them. It is an authentic product.” said Professor
Colvin Gunaratne, addressing a forum of medical professionals at the
Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association, held at the Royal Mall in
Kandy. The issue of additives in Samahan became the focus at the
discussion forum on “Herbal Health Supplements” at the annual general
meeting of the PeMSAA held recently, with Professor Tuley Silva and Dr.
Lalith Chandradasa as panelists, chaired by Professor Colvin Gunaratne.
Professor Tuley Silva stressed that herbal health supplements like
Samahan are now an accepted product category in the developed world and
also in some countries in the developing world like India and Malaysia.
The EU countries, Canada and the USA have all formulated their own
standards and definitions on approving them for their local markets.
Herbal health supplements are not under prescription as they are not
drugs and don’t claim any cures for illnesses, explained Prof Tuley
Silva. They only claim a ‘supportive’ role like strengthening immunity.
Nevertheless the FDAs in those countries have very stringent laws that
take into account the production process of all consumer items
categorised as herbal health care products to assure quality and
efficacy. Explaining further, Prof Tuley Silva said herbal health
supplements are not allowed to contain any chemical additive in their
contents and all such products are 100 per cent natural. Therefore no
preservatives are added to herbal health care products and their shelf
life has to be clearly mentioned after careful testing.
Explaining the constraints of a General Medical Practitioner in
accommodating herbal health care products, Dr. Lalith Chandradasa said,
“In our society, the people have a very long tradition of using herbal
preparations as medicinal cure. Some like Corriander with a pinch of
Ginger and “Pas panguwa” a mixture of five herbs are popular traditional
formulations in households for cold and cold related ailments. They do
have a good impact on common cold, fatigue and fever with those herbs
used in ayurveda as time tested medicinal herbs. Therefore, a GP need
not go against such herbal health supplements, if the producer is a
reputed manufacturer”, was Dr. Chandradasa’s inference. “I have nothing
against Samahan now. It has been proved a completely natural product.”
he said, after explaining his doubts about some herbal health
supplements that are not from reputed manufacturers.
Winding off the discussion Professor Gunaratne said even the WHO now
accepts herbal health supplements with standards laid down and the
Western world has accepted them with very stringent rules and
regulations. “It is not only the developed world, we too have a
responsibility towards herbal health supplements. We need to contribute
through research and tests.
Any one can clear doubts by testing them. That’s what I did with
Samahan. We can contribute by making it a science based health
supplementary sector that could service the needs of our people,” he
added.
Mediherbs introduces Ayurvedic herbal drinks
Mediherbs (Pvt) Limited have introduced Ayurvedic herbal preparations
in easy-to-drink tea bag form in order to popularise Ayurvedic medicine
among the Sri Lankan people. One of the products, the LongLife Ayurvedic
Herbal Drink promotes the proper functioning of blood circulation,
respiratory system, heart, pulse, urinary tract, the digestive system
and the movement of joints, to maintain and preserve health.
This herbal drink contains constituents that purify the system by
strengthening body resistance and protecting the skin, alleviating
stress. Diabina Ayurvedic Herbal Drink, is another
product of Mediherbs (Pvt) Limited, for diabetics. Diabina controls
the sugar level in the blood of patients suffering from diabetes, thus
alleviating side- effects arising from the condition.
Other products of Mediherbs (Pvt) Limited are Gluteala Ayurvedic
Herbal Drink and the Consitap Ayurvedic Herbal Drink.
All their products have been authorised and recommended by the
Ayurvedic Formulary Board of the Ayurveda Department comprising an
eminent panel of doctors.
The herbal preparations of Mediherbs (Pvt) Ltd are based on
traditional indigenous ancient Ayurvedic preparations.
Hale N Hearty - the answer to health insurance
Consultant Medical, Amana Takaful Insurance, Vasantha Ranasinghe
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Having analysed the needs and demands of healthcare in Sri Lanka,
Amana Takaful recently introduced Hale and Hearty - a product that
couples health insurance with the concept of Takaful.
“We have a mission at Amana Takaful Limited,” states Consultant -
Medical, Amana Takaful Insurance, Vasantha Ranasinghe, “and that is to
make good healthcare affordable to everyone. But it might be easier said
than done because it’s an educational process. We need the wholehearted
support and understanding of all stakeholders, particularly the medical
institutions and professionals who provide the services.” Hale and
Hearty is a hassle free cashless service catering to a wide range of
ages and needs. HnH Young Minds is designed for children and carries
free personal accident cover for both parents, while HnH Young Adults
takes the concept of health insurance to a different realm in not
imposing any exclusion on recurring ailments for those who seek health
insurance in their early ages. The customised HnH Easy is extremely
advantageous to those individuals who prefer health insurance that suits
their budget.
Hale and Hearty offers free enhancement of the sum covered, personal
accident cover and the value addition of free membership to the
emergency mobile medical service provider Medi-Calls, which not only the
policy holder but even visitors and domestics serving at the policy
holder’s residence can avail the service. “And in the event of no claim,
a refund of the surplus is a bonus,” adds Ranasinghe. “At the end of the
term, an increase in the sum covered is also assured if there is no
claim. We are also pursuing partnerships with hospitals for those who
used to working with their habitual healthcare service provider.” |