Trained nurses for private sector

Nadira Gunatilleke

Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry is now capable of providing well-trained State sector nurses to private hospitals for the first time. The first batch of 50 nurses who underwent a three year training at State Nurses Training Schools will be handed over to Sri Lanka Hospitals within this month, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman Sri Lanka Hospitals will employ the first batch of the trained nurses. Thereafter more batches will be provided to other private hospitals on demand. The private sector recruits retired nurses and the nurses who leave public service.

There is no mechanism in the private sector to train nurses for private hospitals and other medical institutions. Only the Government has Nurses Training schools. These schools provide a complete internationally recognized training for nurses.

The Government pays Rs. 12,500 per month for nurses as an allowance during their three year training period. It cost them over Rs.2 million to obtain the same training in a foreign country. Now these trained nurses get the opportunity to serve in the private sector just after completing their training and earn a good salary while serving to the local public. Private hospitals can ensure the public a quality service by employing well-trained nurses.

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will extend this program to doctors soon. The doctors can serve in the private sector only after serving in the State sector for eight hours per day. Earlier the health sector did not have adequate number of nurses and doctors and this reason restricted them to serve only in the State sector.

One killed in road mishap

One person was killed and two others seriously injured when their motorcycle veered off the road and crashed into culvert on Monday in Siyambalagashena in Anamaduwa. According to police the trio were under the influence of liquor. The dead victim has been identified as A.H.M. Thilakaratne of Malpaluwa.

Grade One classes begin Jan 28

Grade One classes in National schools will commence for the new year on January 28, the Education Ministry announced on Monday.

The Ministry has directed Principals of National schools to summon parents and finalise admissions if admission lists have already been exhibited in schools.