President orders Health Secretary :

Open OPDs 24 hours

In a directive issued yesterday President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Health Ministry Secretary to take measures to open the Out Patient Departments (OPDs) of all State hospitals throughout 24 hours. The objective of this measure is to ease congestion in OPDs of Government hospitals and to facilitate needy treatment, advice and laboratory tests.

The President has also instructed the Health Ministry Secretary to expedite OPD services, especially those suffering from infectious diseases.

A press release issued by Government Information Director General Prof Ariyaratne Athugala said that this measure will provide a great filip to the development of healthcare and would contribute to the uplift of healthcare standards in the country.

At present there is only a skeleton service during night.

President Rajapaksa has issued these instructions with a view for creating a healthier community and for the health sector to be recognized as one of the best in the region and to maintain exceptional and compassionate quality while offering cost effective healthcare solutions of international standards.

The Government believes that every person has the right to be treated with utmost respect and consideration.

The government has taken these initiatives to care for patients.