Professions Supplementary To Medicine To Continue Their Strike Till Demands Are Met

The Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine which represents four Government Hospital Professions who are in strike at present has today (20)decided to continue their 8 day old strike till their demands are met by authorities.

The Joint Council which has not called off their strike even the Colombo District Court yesterday ordered them to do so through an enjoining order, conducted a general assembly at Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo this noon and decided to Continue  strike, the secretary of the Council Saman Jayasekera has said.Two Heart Patients filed the case in District Court requesting called off the strike which caused severe hardships for government hospital patients.However the Council said that they still didn't received the court order and when does they will responding to it accordingly.

Earlier Around 1000   Government Pharmacists,Radiographers,Medical Laboratory Technicians(MLT),Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists belongs to Professions  Supplementary To  Medicine hold a mass protest in front of Ministry Of Health this morning urging authorities to give solutions for their demands.

The protesters were  gathered near Colombo National Hospital around 11 a.m and march towards Ministry Of Health where the protest was held.Due to this protest one side of the two way Road in front of Ministry was blocked as protesting professionals occupied a part of the  road.A huge traffic was seen around 30 minutes due to this.

Meanwhile the Island Wide Continuous Strike launched by PSM'S held today as well paralyzing issuing of medicines for indoor and outdoor patients,performing of C.T Scan/X Ray Tests and Physiotherapy Treatment offered by Government Hospitals.The treatment of ICU's as well as Routine Surgeries too affected as the strikers withrdrawn emergency services from hospitals.Thousands of Indoor and Out Door Patients are suffering due to this strike.However life saving services of all government hospitals  are carried out as usual the Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine has announced

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PSM's Extended Their Hospital Strike

The Government Hospital Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM) who are in strike at the moment in Government Hospitals have decided to extend their trade union action to Sirimavo Bandaranaike Children's  Hospital at Peradeniya and Central Blood Bank in Colombo with effect from tomorrow(19th)According to Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine secretary Mr.Saman Jayasekera the PSM's in these institutes were not join their strike earlier on humanitarian grounds.

However as The Health Ministry is not interested to giving solutions for their service demands the PSM's have decided to extend their action he stressed.Striking PSM's throughout the island wide will arrived Colombo on this Tuesday (20th) to hold a mass protest campaign near the Ministry Of Health he further added.

Meanwhile the Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine has stated that due to sending Blood Test Samples and X Ray and C.T Scan Tests to Private Sector as a result of the on going PSM Strike  the National Hospital in Colombo alone need to spend Rs.700,000 daily for the Private Sector to get done above tests .

Colombo National Museum Was Robbed

Several  items with historical value were stolen from National Museum in Colombo by a group of thieves who have entered  Museum last night according to Cinamon Gardens Police sources. Several Gold Coins,Rings and a Sword displayed in second floor of the Museum  are among  stolen items the sources added.

Due to the investigations carried out on this robbery the National Museum is closed till tomorrow(18th) police sources further said.

Government Hospital PSM'S Re Launched Their Strike

The government professionals  of supplementary to medicine (PSM) have  relaunched their suspended island wide strike this morning after the talks held yesterday (15th) between  their trade union officials  and Health and Treasury authorities over the PSM'S 10 service demands ended up without a proper solution.The PSM compromising government pharmacists,Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT's),Radiographers,Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists relaunched their strike action  around 8 a.m today by withdrawing even emergency services at  government hospitals according to sources.


Due to this strike issuing of drugs to opd and indoor patients ,performing blood and urine tests and taking x rays and CT Scans in government hospitals are halted and tens of thousands of patients are under went severe hardships according to hospital sources.


Earlier The Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine who  launched an  island wide continuous strike action on Tuesday(13) had temporarily suspended their strike action  yesterday morning to facilitate the talks held with authorities . 
 

Colombo High Court Judge Acquitted Gen.Sarath Fonseka From Hi Corp Case

The Colombo High Court Judge today(15) acquitted and dismissed all the charges leveled against imprisoned former sri lankan army commander General Sarath Fonseka from the Hi Corp Case filed against him by stating that general fonseka cannot be sentenced twice for the same offense.

The former army commander has  already sentenced under Hi Corp case.

The 25 page judgment of High Court Judge Sunil Rajapaksha has stated that according to the law and judicial procedure in the country accusing a person twice on the same offense is unjustified and therefore retired general sarath fonseka acquitted from above charges.However the court fixed a trial against general fonseka's son in law Danuna Thilakaratne who was also charged in the same case scheduled to be heard in absentia on 03rd of May.

Sri Lankans Swallowing 45-50 million Paracetamol Tablets Per Month

A study has found that Sri Lankans are swallowing 45-50 million Paracetamol Tablets per month according to the  secretary to the Health Ministry Dr.Ravindra Ruberu.Due to the large amount of Paracetamol swallowed by Sri Lankans several cases of poisoning  paracetamol have also been reported  as a result of taking overdose Dr.Ruberu has said.


Due to this situation the Ministry Of Health has instructed all government hospital directors to examined the exact amount of paracetamol tablets need per patient in government hospitals and issued the tablets accordingly he stressed.

3 Out Of 13 Infant Deaths At Mahamodara Teaching Hospital PBU Due To Bacterial Infection

The inquiry  report issued on 13 infant deaths reported from the premature baby unit(PBU) of one of the leading government hospitals in southern province the Mahamodara Teaching Hospital has stated that only 3 infant deaths out of 13 deaths occurred due to Bacterial infection and other 10 infants died due to natural causes of their illnesses.

Addressing the media on the report findings today (13th) at health education bureau this morning the health ministry secretary Dr.Ravindra Ruberu has said that the specialists who conducted the inquiry stated in their  report that the deaths of 6 infants caused by  critical condition they were in.However the health secretary has failed to revealed what caused the spreading of bacteria in the PBU of Mahamodara Teaching Hospital and the state of the unit at present.However he stressed that the bacterial infection of this kind can be occurred in any PBU in the world and it's not an extraordinary thing to happen.



The PBU of Mahamodara Teaching Hospital was closed on 09th of March following the deaths of 13 infant deaths reported during last two months suspected as may have due to a bacterial infection.The Ministry of Health was appointed a group of specialists to investigate on the incident and the group concluded the inquiry and handed over their report to director general of health services dr.ajith mendis yesterday (12th).