Request to conduct hospital tours:

Good response from MPs

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

'A good response has been received from Parliamentarians belonging to various political parties to the request made by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to conduct a supervision in state hospitals located in their respective electorates on the first day of the National Health Week to be held from October 3 to 9,' Health Ministry spokesman W.M.D.Vanninayake said.

According to Vanninayake Opposition MPs had pointed out that it is the first time in the Sri Lankan history that a Ministry requested them to actively take part in some work connected to a Government ministry. The first day of the National Health Week has been allocated for all Members of Parliament to inspect State hospitals in their respective electorates and prepare a list of requirements. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena will look into the lists personally and provide the requirements according to the priority list. The survey will strengthen the relationship between politicians and hospital authorities.

The ministry will deploy a 25 member team of professionals to conduct the surveys in each of the 25 districts in order to do a complete survey on State hospitals. The survey will cover three main areas. They are facilities available in State hospitals, medical equipment in use in these hospitals and the human resources available. The ministry does not have a updated and complete data base at present. This is the first time in Sri Lanka that such a survey is to be done, he said.

For the first time in Sri Lankan history, the Health Ministry has made arrangements to conduct a full survey on bed ridden persons, persons suffering from life long illnesses and permanently disabled persons who need assistance. The survey to be conducted on October 6 during National Health Week.

The survey is to be conducted with the assistance of the Public Administration, Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry. The main objective of this survey is providing assistance for required persons. There are many persons suffering from life long diseases and living without any assistance from any institutions. Minister Sirisena held discussions with regional and provincial health authorities in connection with the National Health Week activities, he added.