Special wards for public servants

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The Government's bid to provide special wards for public servants in hospitals throughout the country got off the ground with the National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF) completing the first such ward at Dambagalla Rural Hospital in Moneragala.

NITF Chairman Senaka Abeygunasekera told the Daily News that the NITF has planned to construct over 300 wards, one for each hospital across the country by the end of 2014.

Adding that all these wards will be maintained totally by the NITF after construction, Abeygunasekera added that construction of 40 wards will be completed by 2012 end. The target for 2011 is construction of 15 wards.

Abeygunasekera said that on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's instructions these wards will be constructed in hospitals for many reasons, first being to preserve the dignity of public servants.

He added that taking treatment from private hospitals was costly and mostly unaffordable. He also stated that the other reason is that although the patients were admitted to a private hospital, almost all consultants in those hospitals are from Government Hospitals.

The Chairman said that the Health Minister has in principle agreed with this program. Therefore, he does not see any obstacle in implementing this program. The first ward was a reconstruction of a ward with funds of Rs 15 million, which was not in a usable position. He added that the maintenance would include from bed linen to renovation and electric lamps in those wards. Minor medical equipment will also be provided.

He added that other patients could also be warded in these wards, but priority will be given to public servants.