Supreme Court Has Issued An Interim Order To Prevent Printing Pictorial Warnings In Cigarette Packets

The Supreme Court has today(20) issued an interim order preventing the implementation of printing pictorial warnings on  the cigarette packets covering 80% of the packet space.The Ministry Of Health has issued a gazette notification in August 2012 stating the need to carry pictorial warnings in front of cigarette packets on deadly diseases caused by smoking .

However the Tobacco Companies operating in Sri Lanka have filed a case in Supreme Court against the gazette notification by stating that the companies do not have enough time to produce their opinion on the decision and carrying pictorial warnings on cigarette packets covering 80% of the space is not practical enough.

The  three Judge Panel of the Supreme Court who were heard this case today compromising Judges Eva Wanasundera,Sathya Hettige and Salim Mershook have issued the interim order preventing  implementing the  Gazette Notification regarding carrying pictorial warnings until 22nd January 2014.the court proceeding scheduled to  be resumed on that day.

The Minister Of Health has been recently received an international award from World Health Organization for signing the said gazette notification to implement pictorial warnings in cigarette packets.

The Buddhist Clergy too urged the government last week to implement the said gazette notification without any delay.

Due To The Delay Of Receiving Employment In Government Hospitals 295 PSM Graduates Found Other Jobs

Due to the long delay of getting employment in Government Hospitals 295 out of the 605 Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM) Graduates who were  graduated from State Universities have either went abroad or found jobs in Private Sector according to Secretary of Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine(JCPSM) Mr.Saman Jayasekera.

Only last Tuesday(17) JCPSM has received the assurance from Health Ministry Secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake that all unemployed PSM Graduates will be recruit to Government Hospitals within next two weeks ,but now government hospitals will received only the service of 310 PSM Graduates out of 605 as others are now employed in private sector Mr.Jayasekera has said.these PSM Graduates have awaited government employment since mid of 2012 and even Cabinet has approved a Cabinet Paper last February for recruiting all 605 PSM graduates to government hospitals he has stressed.

However due to the Health Ministry's delay of recruiting them nearly half of these graduates went for other employment the JCPSM Secretary has further said.

These PSM Graduates received their degrees from Ruhuna,Jaffna,Peradeniya and Sri Jayawardenapura State Universities and government has spent around Rs.300,000 per PSM graduate for their education according to Health Ministry sources.they have received education in the fields of pharmacology,radiography,medical laboratory services and physiotherapy sources added.

Now the shortage of Professions Of Supplementary To Medicine in government hospitals have exceeds 1000 according to the reports.

DCD And Botulinum Bacteria Scare Among Imported Milk Powder Products To Sri Lanka Still There-GMOA

Health Ministry Officials should have explained  to the public that how can they ruled out  DCD Chemical is not contained in   imported milk powder products  available at the market Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) has said.No matter what health offcials are saying DCD and Chlostredium Botulinum Bacteria  contained Milk Powder products are still selling in the market  the media spokesman of GMOA Dr.Naveen De Soyza has said.

As experts have predicted DCD chemical is not only entered to the Milk Powder  through adding it to the grass that cow's  are eating but also through the adding  that chemical to the milk powder after importing it Dr.Soyza has revealed." Foreign Milk Powder Manufacturers are adding DCD Chemical to their milk powder products just to show that there's more  protein in their products after the  protein level has been reduced due to the removing of Whey Protein Compound in Cow's Milk " he has stressed.

So due to this how can Health Ministry Officials can hide the truth by stating that imported Milk Powder Products arrived Sri Lanka after 01st of June are not contained with DCD Chemical Dr.Soyza has said.

Some Ministry Officials have shown that they are  ten times more active when they have announced all Whey Protein contained imported Milk Powder Products available in the  local market have not contained Botulinum Bacteria than the time they taken the decision to ban issuing of whey protein contained milk powder to the  market he has further added.

Health Ministry should have  act in more responsible way when dealing with contaminated food issues as it's directly linked to the consumer dr.soyza said.

GMOA Declared This Week As A Week On Implementing Annual Doctors Transfers

Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) has declared this week as a " week on implementing  annual transfers of government hospital doctors".GMOA has already informed hospital administrators to implement doctors transfers during 16th to 23rd of September .

Those hospital administrators who are not able to release the doctors who are in annual  transfers list withing the given week will face disciplinary action the media spokesman of GMOA Dr.Naveen De Soyza has said today(17)government medical officers association has already requested ministry of health to take disciplinary action against  medical administrators who are failing to act accordingly he has added.

According to this year's annual transfer list of government doctors 3179 doctors are due to transfer dr.soyza has said."some medical administrators are purposely not transferring the additional doctors of their hospitals who have received transfer orders  by citing that there are  no  replacements for them .but it is the duty of the administrators to get suitable replacements for their  transferred doctors prior to transfers "dr.soyza  has stressed.

Four Suspects Were Arrested Over Selling 10 Gloves Boxes Belongs To Cancer Hospital

Three Minor Staff workers  attach to Maharagama Cancer Hospital and a funeral parlor owner were taken in to custody and imprisoned  by the police yesterday(15) after they found guilty on selling/buying 10 gloves boxes belongs to the hospital.these gloves boxes were sold to a funeral parlor in Maharagama Area  according to hospital authorities.

The accused minor staff workers sold 10 gloves boxes belongs to Cancer Hospital to the funeral parlor  for Rs.1000 per box it has been revealed.one gloves box they have sold contained 100 gloves  and they have received Rs.10,000 through selling these according to police.after the suspects were produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate Court today the additional magistrate Mrs.Aruni Atygala has ordered to remand them unill 01st of October.

Meanwhile Ministry Of Health has requested  CID to investigate this matter.

Health Ministry Has Banned Four Indian Drug Companies

The Health Ministry has today(15) announced that purchasing of drugs from four indian drug companies have been banned due to supplying low quality drugs.the ministry has ordered national drug authority to stop purchasing drugs from the drug companies Laborate,Vivek ,Bafna and Elysium Pharma ministry sources said.

This step has been taken due to supplying low quality drugs to government hospitals by these companies sources added.the national drug authority has been informed to reacquire the money spent for the above companies when purchasing drugs from them.ministry has banned purchasing drugs from two other Indian Companies last week due to supplying of Injection Phials contaminating glass pieces and foreign objects.

Meanwhile Health Ministry has decided to purchase drugs directly from Bangladeshi Government to avoid drug shortage due to banning purchasing drugs from four indian companies it has been announced.

Responding to  latest announcement  of  the Health Ministry health trade unions says ministry should have explained to the people why they have purchased drugs from those banned drug companies during last four years if they knew those companies are supplying low quality drugs.

Director General Of Health Servives Has Withdrawn His Own Circular Issued On Imported Milk Powder Products

The circular issued by the Director General Of Health Services Dr.Palitha Mahipala ordering  to remove the name of Health Ministry and State Logo from the special Label  pasted on Imported Milk Powder Packets stating the products are free from DCD Chemical,has been withdrawn by Director General Of Health him self last week according to Health Ministry sources.

Due to the withdrawal of the  said circular, Milk Powder Companies importing Milk Powder Products now can paste the special label in their Milk Powder Packets stating that they are free from DCD Chemical by using State Logo and name of Health Ministry the  sources said.

Meanwhile Health Trade Unions are in the view that Director General Of Health Services should act in a responsible way in this issue as the food authority of  the country when giving permission to print state logo and name of Health Ministry in Imported mil powder packets .as there is a confusion on the quality of milk powder imported to the country at present, without having an official confirmation of Health Ministry Milk Powder Companies Cannot print state logo and health ministry's name in their milk powder packets unions have said.

As Health Ministry relaxing their restrictions on Imported milk powder products some brands of imported milk powder which are center of the DCD issue  have been seen in the market shelves carrying the special label with state logo  by stating Health Ministry has confirmed that they are free from DCD Chemical.

"Yal Devi" Express Train Has Resumes Operations For Omanthei To Kilinochchi In Northern Province After 20 Years

The "Yal Devi"express train has resumed operations after 23 years from Omanthei in Northern Province to Kilinochchi this morning with President Mahinda Rajapaksha as it's first passenger.the tarin which has run only upto Madawachchiya in Anuradapura District after 1990 was restricted to Vavuniya during the final stages of War against LTTE.

After the rail line was destroyed by LTTE the service of Yal devi Train was ceased it's operation completely after 23rd of June 1990.

However after the completion of war Sri Lankan Government has reconstructed northern rail line and as a result Yal Devi Express Train has begun their train service to Omanthei after 20 years.the express train could run up to 120 kilo meters per hour after it has been constructed by an indian company "IRCON".a new signalling and telecommunication system was installed for the northern railway line to ensure safety according to the authorities.

Health Ministry Is Going After Milk Powder Products By Sidelining Promoting Liquid Milk -GMOA

Without making any plan to promote liquid milk among the people Ministry Of Health still  going  after Milk Powder products alleged the assistant secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) Dr.Nalin Ariyaratne.according to Dr.Ariyaratne Ministry should now encourage Sri Lankan People to consume Liquid Milk more by  reducing the use of Milk Powder.

GMOA has already presented the proposals to the health ministry on how to improve using of liquid milk in the country and ministry should implement it without  further delay he has  stressed.GMOA still not satisfied the way of conducting DCD tests on imported  milk powder samples and therefor cannot make any guarantee to the people that whether the imported milk powder products available in the market at present are safe for consumption Dr.Ariyaratne has said.

Therefor people too should make a choice which should be best for them the  DCD contained imported Milk Powder Products or the Liquid Milk he further added.

Ministry Of Health Has Decided To Release The Withheld Whey Protein Milk Powder Products After Found They Are Free From Bacteria

The Ministry Of Health has decided to release all withheld milk powder products contained High Concentration Whey Protein and Whey Powder with immediate effect after tests conducted in Medical Research Institute In Colombo and international Laboratories were confirmed they are not contaminate with Chlostredium Botulinum Bacteria which caused Botulism Disease according to Ministry Sources.

Around 104 samples of Whey Protein and Whey Powder contained Milk Powder samples tested at Medical Research Institute have found those samples are not contaminated with the bacteria the sources added.

The food advisory Committee of the Ministry Of Health has decided to with held all the imported milk powder products contained Whey Protein and to removed the said products from the market with effect from 06th of August due to the Chlostredium Botulinum Bacteria scare.as now those Whey Protein Milk Powder Products are found as free from the bacteria there's no need to paste a spacial sticker in Whey Protein products stating they are free of the bacteria the ministry sources further said.

Malabe Private Medical College Is An Ilegal Institute-GMOA

The Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) will not recognized the Private Medical College situated in Malabe as the standard of the said medical college is very low and it is an illegal institute the media spokesman of GMOA Dr.Navin Soyza has said.although GMOA has not recognized the Malabe based Medical College it will not opposing functioning of private medical colleges with good standard dr.soyza has said.

Addressing a press briefing held in Colombo this noon the GMOA Spokesman has said that the newly built hospital attach to the Malabe Private Medical College is not a teaching hospital required to be there and therefore  still not able to give any recognition for the college.

A former official of GMOA who had contested for the member post  of the Sri Lanka Medical Council(SLMC)  and got elected recently due to his promise that he will giving support to ban Malabe Private Medical College now reversed his decision and trying to give legal status to the said medical college GMOA media spokesman has further said.

Director General Of Health Services Has Instructed All Imported Milk Powder Companies Not To Print Health Minsitry's Name And Governemnt Logo In DCD Free Stickers

The Director General Of Health Services Dr.Palitha Mahipala has instructed all Milk Powder Companies which are importing milk powder to Sri Lanka not to print  the name of  Health Ministry and government logo in the special sticker pasted in their milk powder packets which are proved as DCD Chemical free during the tests.

The Director General of Health Services has instructed on this to all milk powder companies operate in Sri Lanka through a special circular issued on 04th of September 2013.in the same circular all provincial health directors,the director of national health institute and chief medical officers throughout the island were informed to inspect whether the milk powder companies are acting according to the instructions that given.

Meanwhile most of the milk powder products issued to the local market by a foreign milk powder company who is in center of the DCD controversy still carrying the sticker contained the name of the Ministry Of Health and print of the government logo by violating director general's orders it has been revealed.

Health Ministry Has Transfered Surgeons And Anesthasists In Outstaion Hospitals To Prescribe Medicine In Central Dispensaries?

Health Ministry has mixed up this year's annual transfers of government hospital doctors by transferring some experienced surgeons and anesthetists attached in outstation hospitals to prescribe medicine for patients in central dispensaries and OPD's (Out Door Patient Department) of small hospitals according hospital sources.

While these expert surgeons and anesthetists transferred in to unusual places necessary replacements for these transfers too not made by the health authorities by putting patients in those hospitals in to more trouble.due to these transfers majority of hospitals in outstation became paralyzed and long queues have been seen in for surgeries and OPD treatment sources have revealed.

Taking instance a 12 year experienced surgeon served in Diyatahalawa Hospital has been transferred in to  a small hospital OPD  recently without a replacement and now a long awaiting list has created for the first time in the hospital and in OPD Surgical Clinic hospital authorities said.due to this situation only around 20 patients have been checked in two of the Surgical Clinics held in hospital every week sources added.in addition a large number of OPD Medical Officers too transferred in to peripheries without a replacement.  due to this the limited number of medical officers attach to OPD of Diyatahalawa Hospital now asking the patients to continue with same drugs prescribed in last month without checking them as a sufficient number of doctors are not there to treat patients in Clinics it has been reported.

PSM's To Withdraw Training Of New Entrants From Tomorrow(09)

The Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM's)are due to withdraw from training new comers with effect from tomorrow(09) as a protest on not solving five of their longstanding service demands .according to The Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine their professions compromising Government Pharmacists,Medical Laboratory Technicians(MLT),Radiographers,Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists have decided to withdraw from training of new entrants due to the delay of Health Authorities to solve their service demands.


Recruiting PSM Graduates to government hospitals and implementing special grade promotions of PSM's are among major demands forwarded by the Union. to the Health Ministry the sources said.

Public Services Nurses Union (PSNU) Want President To Intervene And Find A Solution For Milk Powder Crisis

The Public Services Nurses Union(PSNU) has yesterday (06)requested President Mahinda Rajapaksha to intervene and  find a fair solution for the milk powder crisis occurred in the country.the president of PSNU Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero has said the Industrial Technology Institute(ITI) which is  testing milk powder samples to see whether they are contaminated with DCD chemical has sent  a different report to the Ministry Of Health on 03rd of September by stating those milk powder batches removed from the market early Last Month due to contained DCD now free from that chemical.

Some authorities have trying to cover up the real situation and the so called second report on DCD is a clue on that Venerable Thero has said.due to this situation president should have intervene and solve this matter through a fair inquiry in to the incident as the milk powder crisis now becomes a national issue here he has further added.

Assurance Cannot Be Given To All Milk Powders In The Market Untill Tests Are Completed.-GMOA President

Assurance cannot be given to all milk powder varieties available in the market as DCD Chemical free until the tests are completed on all of them the president of Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) Dr.Anura Padeniya has said.according to him the tests of less then 10 milk powder samples concluded by Industrial Technology Institute up to now as around 120 million packets of DCD contaminated else suspected as contaminated still sold in the market .

"The GMOA has not satisfied the way the Ministry Of Health has sending the milk powder samples to ITI for DCD tests and only selected samples have been sent for the tests up to now" he has stressed.

Meanwhile the deputy health minister lalith dissanayake has said in Parliament yesterday(05)that the ministry of health will assure all milk powder products available in the market are free from DCD Chemical.

Sri Lanka's Annual Expenditure On Importing Milk Powder Is Higher Than Importing Drugs For Government Hospitals

Sri Lanka is spending more money for importing Milk Powder  Products annually than importing drugs for government hospitals it has been revealed.according to central bank reports sri lanka has spending Rs.40 billion annually to import milk powder products to the country which is 0.58% of the gross national product of the country.

Milk Powder is second highest consumed food among locals which is second only to the rice according to the reports.after Sugar ,the second highest expenditure has been spend on importing milk powder products .

As milk powder companies have created a mentality among sri lankan society that milk powder will give them necessity nutrition and prevention of diseases majority of the people here are addicted to using milk powder medical specialists said.

 Meanwhile Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has requested the health ministry secretary dr.nihal jayathilake to implement active plan to promote breast feeding among sri lankan mothers.

Government Nursing Officers Union Again Filed A Court Case Against Fonerra's Milk Products-Seeking A Fresh Enjoin Order Against The Company

The Government Nursing Officers Union has filed a new appeal in Gampaha Civil Appeals Court requesting to issue  a fresh enjoin order against Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka Private Limited by banning distribution ,selling and advertising their milk powder and other milk products in Sri Lanka due to the contamination of DCD Agro Chemical in their products.the nursing officers union has filed the appeal on last Thursday(29) and the case is due to summon on 12th of September according to president of nursing officers union saman ratnapriya.

Nursing Officers Union had earlier filed a case in Gampaha District Court against Fonterra Limited   on 16th of August where an enjoin order was issued against the company banning distributing,selling and advertising all of their milk powder and milk products for 14 days.however the  district court has removed that order  seven days after it's implementation.

Officials Of New Zealand Based Milk Powder Company Apologized From Technology And Research Minister Over DCD Issue

The authorities attach to the Sri Lankan branch of New Zealand based Milk Powder Company which is center of the DCD contained Milk Powder Issue have meet Minister of Technology and Research Champika Ranawaka last week and apologized to  him over the company's behavior in the DCD issue  according to the reliable sources.although the authorities of the said milk powder company have meet the Technology Minister and apologized they didn't meet the Health Ministry officials and apologized due to the influence of one of the top officials of the health ministry the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) has said.

The said Health Official who has influenced the milk powder company not to apologize from the ministry has trying to cover up the DCD contained Milk Powder issue by issuing negative statements like foreign lab reports have shown that  their is no trace of DCD chemical found in imported milk powder GMOA has further added.

Around 12o Million DCD Contained Imported Milk Powder Packets Still Being Sold In Local Market- Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA)

The Health Ministry and the food authority attach to the ministry were only able to removed 252 packets of DCD contained Milk Powder from the market up to now  while around 120 million Milk Powder Packets either DCD contained or suspected as containing  it still being sold  in the market freely according to President Of Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) Dr.Anuruddha Padeniya.

Even the Health Authorities still not able to destroy the removed stock of 252 Milk Powder packets which proved as contained DCD Chemical Dr.Padeniya has said."Sri Lankan health officials still trying to protect some milk powder companies who are imported DCD Contained Milk Powder from New Zealand but New Zealand Government it self revealed that although the using of DCD contained fertilizer in pasture lands of their country has  banned since end of last year the DCD Chemical has already entered in to the human food chain "he has stressed.

One of the largest  milk powder manufacturing companies in New Zealand which is center of the DCD controversy recently  has earned around Rs.130 million as their dally income  through selling their milk powder in Sri Lanka  GMOA president  has revealed.

"There's no brain or body growing nutrients contained in either infant milk powder else full cream milk powder consume by adults"all these are advertising tricks use by multi national milk powder companies to improve their sales of milk powder.infact there's no need to give infant milk powders for children at all as during first six months after the birth infants should be given breast milk only and after the sixth month infant should be given extra food with breast milk" dr.padeniya has  said.

Until the child reaches two years breast feeding should be continued he further added.

Addressing a media briefing held at the OPA Center in Colombo  today(03)  dr padeniya has said that their union handed over a document contained seven proposals on promoting breast feeding among mothers to the Ministry Of Health which is  need of the hour.GMOA urged the health ministry secretary Dr.Nihal Jaythilake to create a health ministry maintained web site to promote breast feeding among local mothers he has further said.

Fourteen Day Injunction Order Against Fonterra Has Extended

The 14 day Injunction Order issued by Court of appeal  banning Fontera Brands Sri Lanka Limited on advertising their milk powder products as 100% safe to  be consumed was again extended till 19th of September when court has taken up the case  today (02).the two member Court of appeal judge panel compromising chairman of court S.Skandaraja and Malini Gunaratne have issued the extension order.

An architect reside in Matale District has filed the case against Fonterra early last Month  against the misleading advertising strategy adapted by  Fonterra on their milk powder products although advertising milk powder products were banned by director general of health services at that time due to DCD scare in the country.

During the court proceedings the lawyers representing plaintiff were argued that although fonterra milk powder products still available in the market it has not clear whether they have contained DCD agro chemical or not as the DCD issue is still not yet be settled.

A Risk Of Re Issuing The Removed Stocks Of DCD Contaminated Milk Powder To The Market-GMOA

The Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) has said that there's a great risk of re issuing the DCD agro chemical contained stocks of Milk Powder which removed from the market recently as  those  stocks still not destroyed by the Health Ministry.Health Ministry should have taken those removed stocks of milk powder under them from milk powder companies and destroy them to avoid such situation the assistant secretary of GMOA Dr.Nalin Ariyaratna has said.

A large stock of Milk Powder Packets belongs to various brands imported mainly from New Zealand and Australia has been removed from the market recently after tests conducted by Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) has confirmed that they have contaminated with DCD Chemical.however those removed stocks still there in stores of milk powder companies it has been revealed.Due to this situation GMOA has already requested from ministry officials to destroy these contaminated milk powder stock with immediate effect dr,ariyaratne has said.

GMOA has also make it clear to health authorities that they are not satisfied with the way health ministry has sending imported milk powder samples to ITI for testing DCD he has stressed.without sending selected milk powder samples from the market ministry should have send samples taken from all the imported milk powder products available in local market for DCD test dr,ariyaratne has further said.

Ayurvedic Home Remedy To Cure Heart Blockage And Cholesterol

An Indian Touch Heel Therapist Dr.Shasikanth Seth who is currently in Sri Lanka to treat patients through touch heal therapy  has introduced an Ayurveda  home remedy which will be   able  to cut down high cholesterol levels and open blocked heart veins.this home remedy made 100% by using locally available ingredients like Ginger,Garlic,Lemon,Apple Vinegar(Juice) and Bees Honey and it can even cure those  who need bypass heart surgery dr,seth has revealed.

The Ingredients and the way of making the said home remedy is given below.

Ingredients-
One Cup Of Lemon Juice
One Cup Of Ginger Juice
One Cup Of Garlic Juice
One Cup Of Apple Cider Vinegar(Juice)

How to Make it-
Put all the ingredients in to a pan and mixed them well .then placed the pan on the fire and  simmer in low heat for about 60 minutes or until the mixture reduces to three cups .afterwards remove the mixture from fire and cool it.then mixed 3 cups of  natural bees honey to the mixture and store it in a jar.drink one tablespoon daily every morning before break first.after consuming this a period of one month it will cut down high cholesterol levels and open blocked heart veins according to Dr.Seth.

Dr.Seth who is treating patients with physical,emotional and mental illnesses through touch heal therapy also treating childless couples from the therapy.he can be reached through the phone numbers 0094 11 777 114 332(Sri Lankan Mobile) and 0091 992 030 7779(Indian).his e mail address-drshashikantseth@yahoo.com