National Drug Policy To Re Submit To The Parliamentary Selections Committee On November

The Draft of the National Drug Policy which was failed to submit to the Parliamentary Advisory Committee on the 08th of October due to the Absence of Parliamentarians is now scheduled to be presented to the Committee within the First Weak of November soon after the deadline of receiving the Ideas and proposals of the Public and the Trade Unions to the Draft Ministry Of Health said today.

The Draft was already published in News Papers and the Ministry Of Health is now seeking the Ideas And Proposals from the Public to make necessary Amendments The Acting Deputy Director General Of Health Services(Laboratory Services)Dr.Wimal Jayantha said.The closing date of receiving of the Ideas and Proposals is  01st of November.

The Draft of the National Drug Policy was approved by the Cabinet on October 2005.This Draft contains the Regulations to adapt the Generic Name when Importing and Purchasing of Drugs in Sri Lanka.

Rubella Vaccine Failure Occured Only In Sri lanka

Although around 12 Countries in the World including Sri Lanka,Canada and Russia are using the Rubella Vaccine which manufactured by the Same Institute The Serum Institute Of India Deaths due to Vaccine Failure were only reported from Sri Lanka Health Minister Nimal Siripala said today.Addressing a Press Brifing in Colombo this mornning he stressed that the World Health Organization too informned him on this.

"Even the Countries like Canada,United Kingdom,Russia and Turkey too are purchasing the Rubella Vaccine from The Serum Institute Of India and theere are no complaints whatsoever reported from these Countries aginst the Vaccine Minister Siva Added.The Serum Institute is the Sole Manufacturer of the Vaccine and when tenders called to Purchase these Vaccines Only the Serum Institute Applied for the Bid "he further said.

Fifteen Swine Flu Positive Students Identified

Another Five Students attached to a Colombo International School were identified as Swine Flu or New Naval Influenza Patients during the Weekend bringing the Total Number of the Swine Flu Positive Students of the Same School to 15 According to the Ministry Of Health.There was a Staff Member of the School too among the Patients receiving treatment at the IDH Hospital according to the Ministry.

Ministry Of Health Requested WHO To Conduct Lab Test For Rubella Vaccine

The Ministry Of Health has requested the World Health Organization(WHO)to submit the Rubella Vaccines purchase by the Sri Lankan National Immunization Programme for a Laboratory Test following the Deaths of two School Girls who died after receiving the Vaccine this year.

Health Ministry Secretary Dr.Athula Kahanda Liyanage personally  requested the WHO Representative here during the Weekend to send the Rubella Vaccine for a Lab Test.The Vaccine is due to send to the TGA Lab in Australia for the Test according to the Health Ministry sources.

Two School Girls died due to developing an Allergic Conditions after receiving the Rubella Vaccine this year and More than Thirty Students too received Hospital Treatment due to the Allergic Conditions occurred because of the Vaccine.Meanwhile the Special Inquiry on the recently reported Death of the School Girl in Wariyapola Area due to the Vaccine is to be conclude this Weekend.This Inquiry is conducted by a Team compromising Medical Specialists.

All Island Health Services Union To Protest Over Arresting Of Health Officials

All Island Health Services Union(Samastha Lanka Suwa Sewa Sangamaya) said that there is a Conspiracy to arrest the MOH of the Wariyapola Area and a Public Health Inspector(PHI) attach to the MOH Office over the Death of the School Girl who died after receiving a Rubella Vaccine early this Week.The Union sent a letter to the Health Ministry Secretary Dr.Athula Kahanda Liyanage stating if such an arrest is taking place their Union will call an Island Wide Strike of the Hospitals to protest against such a move.

The letter sent to the Health Secretary which was signed by the President of the Health Services Union Mr.Gamini Kumarasinha said that the MOH of the Wariyapola Area and a PHI were asked to appear before the Kurunagala Police on the 14th.

However when contacted The Regional Health Services Director Dr.R Rathnayaka said that there is  no truth on attempting to get arrest the MOH and PHI over the Rubella Incident.The Regional Health Services Office at Kurunagala too conducting a Separate Investigation on the Incident.

Twenty Suspected Swine Flu Cases Reported From Colombo International School

Around 20  Students attached to an International School in Colombo suspected as suffering from Swine Flu were reported to the Infectious Disseses Hospital at IDH today in addition to the Six  Swine Flu Cases confirmed from the same School yesterday.These Suspected cases were discharged after taking Blood Samples of them.

The Blood Samples were sent to the Medical Research Institute in Colombo for the tests according to the Hospital Authorities.Six Swine flu cases including Five Students and a Staff Member were reported from an International Collage yesterday and they were undergoing special treatment at the Hospital.Blood Samples taken from another 10 Suspected Swine Flu Students too sent to the MRI by yesterday eve for the tests.All the confirmed Swine Flu Cases reported from the School were caught the dissease locally.

GMOA Advised All MOH's And Doctors To Refrain Administering Rubella Vaccine Till Safety Assures

The Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) today advised all the Medical Officers Of Health(MOH) and Doctors Islandwide to refrain from Administering the Rubella Vaccine till the Health Ministry has taken steps to Test the Vaccine in an International Laboratory and assure

the Protection and Safety of the Vaccine.

GMOA also advised the Doctors to refrain from Adminstering the Rubella Vaccine even the Health Ministry request them to do so after conclusion of the present Inquiry  in to the Death of a School Girl who died

after receiving the Vaccine.The Assistant Secretary of the GMOA Dr.Chandana Atapattu said during a Press Briefing held in Colombo this noon that the Health Minister is trying to put the blame on the Girls Death towards the Doctors while refrain to assure the quality of the Rubella Vaccine use under the National Immunization Programme.

Due to the Deaths  of the Two School Girls in this year  occured due to Rubella Vaccine People are loosing their faith on the Immunization Programme which is one of the Best in the world Dr.Atapattu stressed.He also said that the GMOA requested the Ministry Of Health to introduce either the MR(Mumps and Rubella) or MMR(Measles,Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine to the Immunization Programme instead of the Present Rubella Vaccine.