'Health Ministry employees should be people-friendly'

Suraj A. Bandara

Junior employees in the Health Ministry should be people-friendly as they are the direct contact of patients who seek their support, said Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena addressing a ceremony organized to hand over appointment letters to the ministry's new recruits at the National Blood Transfusion Centre yesterday.

He added the majority of complaints reported from his ministry are related to junior workers' misconduct in hospitals.

"Health workers should be compassionate individuals who have a professional responsibility to maintain a healthy environment in hospitals," he said.

"Patients can be cured through proper drugs as well as kind treatment," the minister said.

He added that when Sri Lanka is striving to reach development goals human resources should possess moral values.

"Knowledge, experience and labour are the key elements of an honest service."

"The free health service should be protected while ensuring a qualitative service to patients," he added.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella addressing the ceremony said the progress that the Health Ministry has gained should be commended.

"The Health Minister works not only for the Polonnaruwa district but for the entire country. He has proved this by recruiting employees from all over the island," he said.