Proposed Draft Of The National Drug Policy Differed From Professor Senaka Bibile's National Drug Policy-Professor R.L Jayakody

The proposed Draft of the National Drug Policy which has been recently submitted to the Parliamentary Advisory Committee for review is different from the Original Professor Senaka Bibile's National Drug Policy and there are so many errors in the proposed draft need to be corrected says Professor R.L Jayakody the Professor Of Pharmacology at Faculty Of Medicine in University Of Colombo.

Although the Health Minister and Director General Of Health Services continuously pledging to implement the proposed National Drugs Policy Draft soon ,there are so many clauses in the draft need to be ratified before implementing it Professor Jayakody has said.addressing a seminar on the proposed National Drugs Policy Draft held at the National Blood Transfusion Center in Narahenpita yesterday(06) he has said that the proposed drug policy which was remade after the health authorities revealed that the previous draft was misplaced ,is out of track when comparing  with the Professor Bibile's National Drug Policy in many ways.

"One of the major errors in the proposed draft that identified is the Clause 38(1)  which stated that the doctors shall write the prescription of drugs from generic name as well as with the brand name .the aim of this clause is not clear " Professor has revealed.this will contradict with the Professor Bibile's Drug Policy which says the importation of Drugs to the country and prescribing to the patients  should be done by generic name" he has stressed.

Also he has questioned the authorities on what basis the post of  Deputy Director General Of Laboratory Services(DDG(LS) was  included in the draft as a member of the proposed National Medicinal Drug Authority to be set up under the draft," as the post has nothing to do with drug industry and only responsible for activities in laboratory services it's not clear the reason behind it's inclusion" Professor Jayakody has stated.

Meanwhile it is widely believed that the outgoing chairman of the National Drug Authority Dr.Hemantha Beneragama and the former health ministry secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake were responsible for including the DDG(LS) post as a member of the proposed authority to be set up under the drug policy. Dr.Beneragama who was eyed the DDG(LS) post a year back wants to involve in matters related to importing of drugs to Sri Lanka even after getting the new post Health Ministry Sources said.however the Public Services Commission(PSC) has recently requested the health ministry not to consider Dr.Beneragama for the post due to his malpractices in office and later another director was appointed for the post.

Meanwhile several doctors and trade union leaders present at the occasion were criticized the authorities for not publishing the draft policy of National Drug Policy in the Health Ministry Web Site from Sinhalese and Tamil Languages.as the draft is only displayed in the ministry web site in English language it will be unfair for other communities who wants to make suggestions and criticisms on the draft they have said.

A section of Professors,Doctors,Media Representatives ,members of Doctors and Nurses Unions,Patients rights Movement,Civil Activists,members of the World Health Organizations, legislative Department,State pharmaceutical Corporation,Sri Lanka Medical Association and Health Minsitry and related institutions were present at the occasion, all the suggestions made by the participated representatives on the drug policy will be utilized when making amendments to the draft Health Ministry officials have said.

Cockroaches Causes Respiratory Illnesses Like Asthma-Colombo Chief Medical Officer

The Chief Medical Officer Of Colombo Dr.Ruwan Wijemuni has appealed to the Public to ensure that  their houses are  free of Cockroaches as the  excreta and wings of them  will be caused serious respiratory illnesses like Asthma.the wings and excreta of the cockroaches are contain  an acid substance which causes the respiratory illnesses he has stressed.

The fumigation method which uses to destroy dengue mosquitoes is also destroying cockroaches as well Dr.Wijemuni  has further said. 

Colombo Public Health Department To Introduce The Ovitrap Method To Control Dengue

The Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council is planning to introduce the  "Ovi Trap"method to reduce  breeding of Dengue Mosquitoes in City Of Colombo according to Chief Medical Officer in Colombo Dr.Rohana Wijemuni."Ovi Trap" system which is recommended by World Health Organization as a successful method of destroying the dengue mosquito larvae has successfully tested in Singapore and Malaysia Dr.Wijemuni has said.

Under the  this method a Plastic Containers filled with water  will be planted in the  houses and institutions which are identified as  risk areas  of breeding dengue mosquitoes.after planting the plastic containers, the dengue mosquitoes will laying eggs in the water there. then the eggs will go down the water and the residents can either removed the water from the container else destroying the eggs Dr.Wijemuni has stressed.

Besides introducing the Ovi Trap method to control dengue mosquitoes the Colombo Public Health Department has decided to appoint 47 Dengue Control Officers for 47 Urban Divisions in Colombo City with the aim of implementing dengue control activities  effectively.the appointing of these officer will take place during next week the chief medical officer of Colombo has said.

The said officers will be provided with a fogging machine and other equipment for their work according to Dr.Wijemuni.

98% Of The Annual Child Births In Sri Lanka Occurs In Hospitals -Family Health Bureau

Out of the total number of child births reported in Sri Lanka annually 98% of child births occurs  in Hospitals under the supervision of a Gynecologist the deputy director of Family Health Bureau Dr.Chithramali De Silva has said.94 % out of this occurs in government hospitals and remaining 4% occurs in Private Hospitals she has stressed.

As the majority of pregnant mothers prefers to go to a Hospital for their child births only 2% out of the total number of child births occurs annually are happens at houses Dr.De Silva has revealed.

According to the newest survey carried out on the maternal morbidity in Sri Lanka only 37 maternal deaths have been reported from 100,000 pregnant mothers delivering their babies.this is the lowest maternal morbidity rate reported from South Asian Region Deputy Director of the Family Health Bureau has said."we are now planning to reduce this rate further to 23 maternal deaths by next year" she has further added.

Meanwhile according to the survey carried out by the Family Health Bureau around 120-150 maternal deaths are reported from Sri Lanka Annually mostly due to the hemorrhage.due to the safe blood transfusion facilities available in all government hospitals in Sri Lanka the maternal deaths occurs due to the hemorrhage has been reduced significantly Gynecologists have said.  

Western Provincial Council Has Closed 148 Schools Due To The Bad Weather

Western Provincial Council has decided to close 148 schools in the province from tomorrow (04)until further notice  due to the adverse weather conditions prevailing.according to the authorities 137 schools in Kalutara District ,9 schools in Colombo District and 2 schools in Gampaha District will be closed due to the bad weather.

Authorities have said that if the weather conditions improves the schools can be opened without a delay.

A Plan To Reduce Noise Pollution In The City Of Colombo

The Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council has decided to introduce a Horn  Free Day and Horn Free Zone for the Colombo City coincide with  World Environment Day falls on this Thursday(05) to reduce the  increased noise pollution in the  city.

The noise pollution in the city has been increased by 8 Decibel Units during last 10 years and now stands at 72 Decibels the Chief Medical Officer Of Health Dr.Rohan Wijemuni has said.due to this situation diseases like High Blood Pressure are  in increase among adults and children Dr.Wijemuni has revealed.

According to Dr.Wijemuni the doubling of the number of vehicles enter the Colombo City daily during last 10 years is the main reason for  increase in   noise pollution.around 250,000 vehicles are entering the city daily at present when compare to the number of vehicles entered 10 years back which was around 100,000 .

"Therfore the Public Health Department has decided to introduce a Horn Free Day and Horn Free Zone at seven selected roads on this Thursday between 8.30 a.m to 10.30 a.m to aware the public on the  importance of  reducing noise pollution and during that time period there's no stopping of vehicles in the city" Colombo Chief MOH has stressed.

Meanwhile according to a latest survey done by Central Environment Authority and Industrial Technology Institute around 90% of the noise polluters in Colombo City are bus drivers and drivers of heavy vehicles who are tooting horns unnecessarily .Sri Lanka has recognized  as the only country  that tooting horns unnecessarily even at traffic jams,bus stops and sometimes at co lour lights researchers have said.  

Around 15 Persons Died Due To The Adverse Weather Conditions Prevails In Several Parts Of The Country

Around 15 persons including members of the same family have died due to the floods and land slides occurred in several parts of the country since yesterday (01)as a result of the current adverse weather conditions the  Disaster Management Center (DMC) has announced.

Out  of the 15 deaths reported 12 are from the Kalutara District(Western Province) and among them were father and two children from the same family DMC said.Three deaths were reported from Colombo and Matara Districts (Southern Province)
.In Colombo a couple reside in Malabe Area have died when a wall of their house collapsed this morning.in Matara District two youths are reported as missing due to the adverse weather conditions.

The authorities have disconnected the Power Supply for the most parts of Kalutara District in view of the safety of those who  trapped in flood waters out there it has been reported.

Heavy Showers accompanied by thunder,lightning and gusty winds prevails in most parts of the country for second consecutive day today while roads ,bus and railway stations  and houses in some places remains under  water the  Disaster Management Center has said.