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).

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

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.”