2574 Dengue Patients Admitted To Ridgway Children's Hospital This Year

Around 2574 Dengue Patients were admitted to Lady Ridgway Children's Hospital for treatment during last 08 months of this year while 11 of them died hospital sources said today(29).Out of the total number of dengue patients reported majority were  transferred from outstation hospitals and all deaths occurred due to seeking late treatment or lapses in hospital treatment sources added.

CID Inquiring On Leaking Of Grade 5 Scholarship Examination Paper Prior To Exam

The criminal investigations department(CID) has been inquiring on whether there's a leek in examination paper prior to grade 5 scholarship examination  which was held throughout the island last Sunday(26)according to examinations commissioner w.m.j.n.j pushpakumara the inquiry is conducting due to the allegations made by several sections including some teachers trade unions who are stated  that the grade 5 scholarship exam paper was leaked before the examination.

Some teachers trade unions requested education authorities to annul the scholarship examination and re held it in a view of thousands of students who faced injustice  due to leak of examination paper.

Janitorial Service Tenders Of 54 Government Hospitals Gone Astray

A large scale financial fraud occurred during handing over janitorial tenders (cleaning services)of 54 Government Hospitals to private companies for 2012-2013 period it has been revealed,The fraud occurred when handing of said tenders to government hospitals vested to ministry of health at a cost of Rs.3 billion sources said.

A sum of Rs.12 million had exchanged as commissions during tender procedure which  3 of the powerful persons in the health ministry including a minister got involved sources further added.a sum of rs.3 billion spending for janitorial services is a total waste of public money which can be utilized to purchase out of stock drugs in hospitals health ministry officials said.as these tenders solely handled by higher officials of the ministry they do not even requested the service of a labor officer to calculate wages of laborers involved in janitorial service which is must according to labor laws officials have said.

Also due to improper way of handling these tender deals the companies who produced lowest bids and suitable for offering janitorial tenders were ignored.

The procurement committee which prepared  tender deals  put low wages for laborers  which were very low compare to Rs.633 minimum daily wage (for a 12  hour shift daily) recommended by labor department.Also the private companies who received the tenders after   produced highest bids have been reported as not paying   full amount of the salary of laborers and as a result some laborers attached to some janitorial companies who are cleaning hospitals launched a strike action by opposing this it has been revealed.

Muruththettuwe Thero Is In Warpath Against Health Ministry

The President of Health Services Trade Union Federation Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero has claimed that due to the poor administrative skills of  Health Minister, ministry itself has become a "paradise of cheaters"while declaring current health minister as a poor administrator ever appointed as health minister Venerable muruththettuwe Thero has said  that due to this situation there's no discipline in the ministry.

Eleven Drugs Are Out Of Stock In Karapitiya Hospital

Eleven essential drugs including Insulin Injections prescribed for  diabetes patients are out of stock in Karapitiya General Hospital these days hospital sources said."Atovasatatin",Enelapeil and Meformin  are among these out of stock drugs sources added.

Due to this situation patients are advised by doctors to buy these drugs from Private Pharmacies through there own expenses.

Janitor Service Tender Of Chilaw Base Hospital Handed Over To a Banned Company

Health Authorities have handed over a  janitor  service (cleaning service) tender of Chilaw Base Hospital ( 2012/2013 period ) to a private company which was banned by Presidential Special Investigations Unit for a sum of Rs.13,149,459 it has been revealed.The sum of money spent for this tender is not worth for a janitor service of a base hospital and it was a total waste of money the co secretary of Health Services Trade Union Federation Mr.Harendra Kuruppu  has claimed.

The tender which was offered to the said company on 26th of june 2012 was handled by 3 of the powerful officers at Ministry Of Health including a minister Mr.Kuruppu has said.The worth of the tender offered to above company is 5 times higher than the lowest bid produced by another company   he stressed.

All Universities Except Medical Faculties closed

Due to the ongoing strike action of University Lecturers higher education ministry has decided to close all university faculties except medical faculties till further notice.University Lecturers are in strike since 04th July demanding increase of their wages.This strike paralyzed the whole university education system as well as paper marking activities of G.C.E Advanced Level Examination.