One Day Token Strike Of National Hospital Docs Paralyzed Hospital Services

Due to the one day token strike launched by Doctors attached to Colombo National Hospital today(01)OPD Clinical treatment,routine surgeries and treatment were  paralyzed  and as a result thousands of opd and indoor patients have suffered according to hospital sources.

The one day token strike which started at  8  a.m today(01) is due to end at 8 a.m tomorrow(02).

Doctors are demanding the correction of irregularities in 2013 annual transfer list of doctors and suspending the decision taken by Health Secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake to release 450 doctors based on out dated 2012 annual transfer list according to Colombo National Branch Union Of Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA).

Meanwhile the parent Body  of   Government Medical Officers Association has condemned this strike action today and said this strike is a clearly a violation of GMOA Constitution as the branch union has  not informed the parent union on strike.

Colombo National Hospital Doctors To Launch A Token Strike Tomorrow(01)

All Doctors attached to Colombo National Hospital has decided to launch a one day token strike from 8 a.m tomorrow(01) to 8 a.m on Saturday (02) by demanding solutions for  two demands.

Around 1000 doctors attached to Colombo National Hospital launching this strike by demanding correcting irregularities of  annual transfer list of doctors and suspending orders given by health secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathiake to release around 450 doctors based on out dated 2012 annual transfer list according to Colombo national  hospital branch of Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA)all  OPD (Out Door Patients Department) clinical treatment as well as  routine surgeries and treatment will not be performed during strike period while emergencies will be performed as usual branch union officials said.

If the solutions for two demands not given withing next two days national hospital doctors will launch a continuous strike from coming Monday(04) officials further added.

Supreme Court Suggests Reducing The Size Of Health Warning Pictures In Cigarette Packs

The Supreme Court today(28) has suggests Health Ministry and Ceylon Tobacco Corporation to settle health warning issue by reducing the size of health warning pictures proposed to be appeared in Cigarette Packs.Court has given both parties to settle this matter till 28th of March.

Tobacco Company has  filed a case against Health Ministry opposing the printing of health warning pictures in cigarette packs which earlier rejected by appeals court.

President Has Instructed Education Minister To Introduce Medical Fitness For School Sports Activities

President Mahinda Rajapaksha today(27) has instructed Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena to work out a system to subject students selected for sports activities to medical fitness first.president has instructed this following the death of a school girl who was collapsed and died yesterday (26)whilst participating the school sports meet .

The school girl reside in Mawanaella(Kandy District) was collapsed during running 5000 meter race at sports meet of her school  and was declared dead after she was admitted to the hospital.

As majority of skilled  Government Hospital Intensive Care Unit(ICU) nurses are applying hospital jobs in Canada and other western countries functioning of around 90 hospital ICU's are in question according to hospital sources.according to hospital authorities a group of ICU nurses have already left western countries to serve hospital ICU's there while a large number of skilled ICU nurses are participating IELTS English examination seeking  foreign employment.

This situation also worsen the severe shortage of nurses in government hospitals as only 24,000 nurses are employed in hospitals  while around 36,000 nurses needed to fill the vacancies.

Sri Lanka Protested Over Channel-4 Documentary

Sri Lanka has officially protested against screening of Channel-4 documentary "No Fire Zone-The Killing Fields In Sri Lanka"which is due to be screened this Friday during United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)meeting in Geneva ,Switzerland.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Switzerland Ravinatha Ariyasnha has protested the screening of above documentary through a letter sent to head of UNHRC in which he mentioned the documentary as contains a narrative that is "discredited, uncorroborated and unsubstantiated.

Two Died ,Seven Injured Due To A Lorry Accident

Two persons died and seven others were injured due to a lorry accident occurred on the Bandaragama-Piliyandala Road early this morning.two persons died upon admission to the Colombo South Hospital according to hospital sources.the accident has occurred when the lorry has skidded off the road at Kindelpitiya Junction in Bandaragama-Piliyandala Road.