24 October 2023 12:00 am Views - 98
By Sheain Fernandopulle
While welcoming the newly appointed Health Minister Ramesh Pathirana, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) stressed the importance of doing away with certain health officials in the health ministry and other institutions, especially the NMRA and MSD.
Speaking to Daily Mirror, GMOA Media Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said the new minister should come up with a new set of policies to address the issues the health sector is grappling with at present.
The change was needed in the leadership. We are willing to engage with the new minister and the SLMA would extend the fullest cooperation
“However, if the new minister is to be successful, he needs to get rid of certain health officials who have become parasite to the health sector. It is these officials who have jeopardized the health sector in Sri Lanka,” he pointed out.
“Thus, the new minister needs to be supported by a bunch of genuine and dedicated officials, he added.
Meanwhile, the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) Dr Vinya Ariyaratne told Daily Mirror they are ready to work with any minister; however, he or she needs to come clean.
“The change was needed in the leadership. We are willing to engage with the new minister and the SLMA would extend the fullest cooperation,” he highlighted.
“The new minister should immediately take steps to solve the existing issues plaguing the health sector such as shortage of medicines, quality of drugs, corruption in the sector,” he added.