PR drill for minor health staff

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Health Ministry commenced a special training programme for minor health staff aimed at 'shoring up their discipline, dedication and public relations' to offer a better service to the public.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena ordered health officials to train the minor health staff, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said Minister Sirisena instructed health officials to train minor health staff after considering complaints he received about the arrogant behaviour by minor health staff towards the public at state hospitals and other institutions.

The services offered by them is also poor due to the lack of training, he said. Launching the training at the Medical Research Institute (MRI), Minister Sirisena said one of the main problems that exist in Sri Lanka at present concerns discipline.

The most difficult quality to improve is people's discipline and ethics, he said. Minister Sirisena pointed out that the special training is designed to improve the discipline of minor staff.

The three main objectives of the programme is improving discipline, ensuring patients' safety and improving the dedication of minor staff to provide a better and quality free health service to the public, he added.