New reforms in the offing to revitalize health sector

• Nursing vocation to be opened to students who studied all streams
• SL seeks WHO guidance to set up accredited drug testing lab  
• New Medical Act in the offing  
• NMRA and SLMC acts to be completely repealed  
• Another Rs.30 Bn approved to address medical needs   
• Health professionals welcome proposed reforms  

By Sheain Fernandopulle

In the wake of pressing issues which have brought a healthcare system to its knees, a spate of reforms have been proposed to address existing issues and improve services in Sri Lanka. 

Accordingly, the health authorities are contemplating seeking guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) to implement an accredited laboratory in Sri Lanka to further facilitate and uplift testing.  
This was discussed during a meeting held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Health Minister and other stakeholders yesterday (02).   
During the meeting, the issues concerning the health sector were taken into discussion where the need to bring in new reforms was highlighted.  

As such, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the formulation of a new Medical Act within six months.  According to the PMD, the new Medical Act will address shortcomings in the present Medical Ordinance and thereby provide better healthcare and protect citizens’ well-being.  

Besides, plans are afoot to completely repeal the acts of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) in a bid to allow a more open and fair market.  

The government also announced that the nursing vocation will be opened to students from all streams, not just science.   
Furthermore, an additional allocation of Rs.30 billion has been approved for medical supplies to meet immediate medical needs of the country. These funds are expected to be sufficient for the next three months.  

Meanwhile, while welcoming the proposed reforms, Dr Vinya Ariyaratne, the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) said, “The said reforms should be done in a careful and transparent manner under the consultation of professional bodies.”    

New proposed reforms:

Govt. mixed up with priorities: GMOA

• Formulation of new Medical Act not need of the hour
• Says to empower existing NMRA act than repealing    

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

Referring to the proposed new reforms to the health sector, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) charged that the Government has failed to figure out priorities. 

“In fact, the existing NMRA is far more adequate to strengthen the drug regulation rather introducing a new one. What needs to be done is to properly empower the existing act and implement it,” he stressed.   

Therefore, the GMOA urged the Government to relook at the proposed reforms and address the most pressing issues first before opting for long term proposals.