Provincial Health Ministers Warned Shortage Of Doctors May Resulted The Closure Of More Than 18 Hospitals

Several Provincial Council Health Ministers today complained to the Health Minister Maithrepala Sirisena that more than 18 Provincial Council run Hospitals are to be shut down soon due to not having a Single Doctor.

Addressing a Provincial Health Minister's Forum held at the National Blood Centre in Narahenpita,Colombo this morning  the Provincial Health Minister of the North Central Province Pahala Wijerathna Bandara said that more than 10 Hospitals in his Province facing a shut down due to not having a single doctor and several other Hospitals in the Province are running through the Doctors attached to the Main Hospitals of the Province due to the lack of Doctors.

There is a severe shortage of other Medical Professionals too at the Provincial Hospitals he stressed.He also said that this situation occurred  due to the delay of approving the Cadre of Medical Professionals for  the Provincial Hospitals.Speaking in the occasion the Health Minister and the Chief Minister of the Southern Provincial Council Shan Wijayalal de Silva has said that 08 Hospitals in the Matara District of the Province also facing a shut down due to not having a single doctor.He also stressed that the Operation Theaters of the Alpitiya Base Hospital in the province which has developed with the cost of Rs.500 Million were shut down since sometime back due to the shortage of Medical Professionals.

The Provincial Health Ministers of the Sabaragamuwa and the Eastern Provincial Councils too made similar remarks on the Shortage of Medical Professionals of their Provincial Hospitals.

Meanwhile the Deputy Director General of Health Services (Medical Services)Dr.Wimal Jayantha has said that the present cadre of Doctors are enough to cater the needs of the Patient treatment in the Government Hospitals and out of the 16,171 Doctors needed for the year 2010 ,9577 doctors are to be recruited for the Provincial Council Hospitals.

At the Conclusion the Health Minister Maithrepala Sirisena has urged the Provincial Health Ministers to submit a detailed report on the shortage of Medical Professionals in their Hospitals by  07th of October.

Heavy Showers To Continue Another Two Days

The Department of Meteorology has announced today that the heavy showers prevails in the Country at present will continue  for another two days with Showers in the evenings.The cause of the Heavy showers is due to the disturbance in the Lower atmosphere according to the Met Department.

Sri Lankans Abroad To Protest For General Fonseka's Release

A series of protest rallies are to be held in three European Cities in coming days with the participation of Sri Lankans abroad to urge the Sri Lankan Government to release the imprisoned former Army Commander and the leader of the Democratic National Alliance(DNA)MP, Retired General Sarath Fonseka and the upholding of democratic principles in Sri Lanka  DNA has announced.According to the party sources the first of these rallies will be held in Milan in Italy on the 26th of September and the second one in Paris on 02nd of October and the third one in Rome on 03rd of October.

General Fonseka's daughter Apsara Fonseka,the DNA Parliamentarians Arjuna Ranathunge,Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Tiran Alles are due to participate these Rallies.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress To Remained In Opposition

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress(SLMC) today announced that they will remained in the Opposition despite the support they offered the Government to passed the much debated 18th Amendment recently.SLMC has further stated that their party will support the Government on the good moves taken which will be beneficial for the General masses.

Severe Drug Shortage Hit Cancer Hospital

More than twenty Essential Cancer Drugs including an expensive Intra Venus Injections are out of stock at the Colombo National Cancer Hospital these days as thousands of Cancer Patients getting treatment from the Hospital are suffering  due to this situation.Some of the essential Intra Venus Injections that are out of stock at the Cancer Hospital are very expensive and a vial of some of these injections costs between Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 in the Private Sector according to the Oncologists.

Doctors at the Cancer Hospital are recommending Cancer patients to buy these out of stock drugs from Private Pharmacies according to the Hospital Sources.

DNA Apealed The Public To Protect Their Leader General Fonseka's Rights

As the Second Court Martial Found Former Army Commander Retired General Sarath Fonseka guilty for the charges on violating tender procedures when purchasing Military Equipments while he was in office The Wife of the Former Commander told media today that she will not accepted any Justice from the President regarding the Military Court's ruling over his husband.

Meanwhile the Democratic National Alliance(DNA) Leaders today appealed the Buddhist Clergy,Government and Non Governmental Organizations and the people to come forward and protect General Fonseka's rights.General Fonseka will face a maximum punishment of three years in Jail under the second court martial ruling.Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinha today appealed the President not to approve the Military Court Judgment on General Fonseka as it will affect the General's  Parliamentary rights.

UNP MP To Make Representations On Behalf Of General Fonseka

Opposition United National Party(UNP) MP Dr Jayalath Jayawardene is scheduled to make representations on behalf of the Imprisoned Former Army Commander and the leader of the Democratic National Alliance(DNA) Retired General Sarath Fonseka before the Human Right Committee for the Parliamentarians  of the Inter Parliamentary Union on 02nd of October in Geneva.

Dr.Jayawardene is invited to the Conference by the organizers.