Public Services Nurses Union Has Urged The Health Ministry To Extend The Retirement Age Of Nurses

The Public Services Nurses Union (PSNU) has made a written request to the Ministry Of Health to extend the retiring age of Nurses to 63 years and to recruit the retired government nurses to  hospitals as a solution for the nurses shortage faced by government hospitals.

The President of the PSNU Ven.Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero has said as more and more new wards and new units including theaters and intensive care units attached to government hospitals are open there's only 25,000 nurses are available to cater the needs of patient care in the hospitals while the hospitals needed around 45,000 Nurses to fill the shortage.

Due to the severe Nurses Shortage in the Country Nurses attached to the special units like Theaters and Intensive Care Units need to work  12 to 18  hours per day and as a result  not able to cater their personal needs Muruthettuwe Thero has stressed."If the Ministry Of Health is not accepting the Nurses Unions proposals on  filling  the shortage of nurses the Union will refused to recruit the current batch of nurses to any of the newly built government hospital units he has revealed.

The next batch of trained nurses are due to passed out in the year 2014 and at least till then the Health Ministry should have implemented the Nurses Union 's proposals the President of the Union has stressed.

Hambantota And Colombo/Northern Province Identified As The Areas Having Highest And Lowest Life Expectancy Rates

Hambantota District (in Southern Province) has identified as the Area having highest rate of life expectancy in Sri Lanka while Colombo District and Northern Province are having the lowest life expectancy rate according to the newest statistics issued by the United Nations Fund For Population Activities(UNFPA).

UNFPA has stated that the life expectancy rate of Hambantota is 79.6 years and the life expectancy rates of Colombo District and Northern Province is 66.9 years.Sri Lanka also rated as a country which having highest growth rate of Adult Population amongst the developing countries where the population compromised only 26 % of youth.

As Sri Lankan population is now over 20 million ,10 % of the population compromised with adults according to the latest statistics available.The Additional Secretary of the Ministry Of Health Dr.Palitha Mahipala has said that this percentage of adult population is expected to stand as 20 % by the year 2025.

With the increase of adult population chllanges like Caring the elderly,Providing Social and Financial Security ,Health Care problems will arise and the Government has already implemented new schemes to meet these challanges he stressed.

These facts revealed during a Media Seminar held today (25) at the Health Education Bureau Auditorium under the theme "The Social Challanges faced after the Global Population reached 7 Billion by 31st of October this year"

GMOA Wants A Five Fold Salary Increase For Government Doctors

Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has stated today that they are expecting a Five Fold Increase of the Basic Salaries of Government Doctors through this years Budget.Addressing a Press Briefing held in Colombo today (24) the President of  GMOA Dr.Anurudda Padeniya has said that the Government Doctors wants a Salary increase based on the proposals of National Salary Policy drafted in the year 2006.

The Budget Proposals are due to be presented to the Parliament soon.

Dr.Padeniya has also stated that at present a Government Doctor draws a salary of Rs.26,000 -Rs.42,000 and a Medical Specialists received a basic salary of Rs.42,000."If the Government is not able to make  a substantiate salary increment for Government Doctors one cannot avoid them leaving the Government Sector for Private Sector or Go abroad " he stressed.

Sri Lankan Government Called A Probe On Gadaffi's Death

The Sri Lankan Government  has called today  a probe on the death of former Libyan Leader who was assassinated few days ago Muammar Abdul Gadaffi and the circumstances surrounding his death.According to the Ministry Of External Affairs the circumstances surrounding Libyan Leader's death need an explanation.

Late Libyan Leader was having cordial relationship with Sri Lanka in the past and also attended the Non Aligned Summit held in Sri Lankan Capitol Colombo in 1976.

80 Percent Of The Sri Lankans Sustained With Spinal Cord Injuries Died Within 2 Years A Study Has Revealed

A survey has revealed that Around 80 percent of the Sri Lankan Patients who are sustained with Spinal Cord Injuries died within 2 years time former Squadron Leader attached to the Sri Lanka Air Force Susil Siriwardena has said.He also said that around 1200 Spinal Cord Injuries have been reported from the country annually.

Addressing a Press Briefing held yesterday (21) at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute regarding the ongoing 10th Asian Summit on Spinal Cord Injuries held in Colombo Mr.Siriwardena has stressed that he him self is a victim for Spinal Cord injury and urged the need to address the issues related to Spinal Cord Injuries which leads life time disability as well as morality.

The Director of Youth,Elderly and Disabled Persons in the Ministry Of Health Dr.Anil Dissanayake has said that with the outcome of the ongoing three day International Seminar On Spinal Cord Injuries held in Hotel Ceylon Continental a National Policy on Spinal Cord Injuries to address the rising issues related to Spinal Cord Injuries here will be drafted following a National Summit on the subject.

The 10th Asian Summit On Spinal Cord Injuries began in Hotel Ceylon Continental in Colombo yesterday (21)evening with the participation of some 600 delegates representing around 20 Asian Countries.The First Lady Mrs.Shiranthi Rajapaksha has graced the occasion with several Cabinet Ministers.

A special workshop is currently underway at the Summit venue for Disabled Persons with Spinal Cord Injuries.

Ministry Of Health Has Issued Two Circulars To Restrict The Sending Of Govt.Hospital Medical Lab Tests To Pvt Sector

The Ministry Of Health has issued two circulars to All the Government Hospital Directors  recommending to restrict sending of Medical Lab Tests to  the Private Medical Sector according to the Ministry Sources.


From these Circulars the Ministry has requested from  Hospital Authorities to circulate a list of Medical Lab Tests available in Government Hospitals amongst the Medical Officers, so they will avoid of sending the said Lab Tests to the Private Sector.


However it has been reported that although two circulars were issued Medical Lab Tests available in Government Hospitals are still donne through the Private Medical Labs.

First Ever Asian Spinal Cord Injuries Summit To Be Held In Sri Lanka Commenced Tomorrow

The First ever Asian Summit on Spinal Cord Injuries  to be held in Sri Lanka will workout form 21 st(Tomorrow) of October to 23 rd of October in Colombo.Large number of Medical Specialists representing  Asian Countries including Sri Lankan Specialists are due to attend this Summit and share their knowledge on treating Spinal Cord Injury victims.