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Rajitha threatens legal action against GMOA

17 January 2019 05:45 am - 26     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said he would take strict legal and administrative action against Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) as they had even involved President Maithripala Sirisena in their malicious, vituperative and acrimonious campaign against him.

The GMOA’s claim that President Sirisena told them during a discussion he had with them that a Presidential Commission would be appointed to look into the activities of the Health Ministry was an absolute lie, Minister Senaratne said.

Addressing a news briefing at Temple Trees yesterday, Minister Senaratne said that he had inquired form President Sirisena whether he was going to appoint a Presidential Commission to probe the activities at the Health Ministry and President Sirisena had replied one cannot appoint a commission to inquire into a government ministry but only to inquire into the activities of a government.

Minister Senaratne also said President Sirisena had never made any remark about a corrupt health minister at the meeting as claimed by the GMOA and added that even the President was irritated about the lies being spread by the GMOA.

“This lies of the GMOA are aimed at impressing young, unsuspecting doctors who enter the medical profession. The GMOA is not a trade union that serves the profession or the patients but a political outfit that promotes hatred and conflicts,” Minister Senaratne charged.

It was extremely difficult to take action against members of the GMOA who have been charged for medical negligence including raping patients. If and when they feel an incident in the Health Ministry, a hospital or a medical institution affects their dictatorial influence on the state health sector they behave like a gang of thugs and never hesitate to take the law into their own hands.

Minister Senaratne pointed out that the GMOA commits all these malicious and venomous acts with the aim of bringing its President to Parliament through the national list of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at the next general election.

‘The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), the regulator of the medical profession, was run in the past like a monopoly of the GMOA and promoted its agenda. I have decided to change the composition of the GMOA to put an end to the GMOA’s monopoly on it and set up an SLMC with the policies and principles similar to the British Medical Council. A committee of eminent persons has been appointed to make recommendations to the new SLMC in this regard,” Minister Senaratne stressed.

“I have been commended, praised and given awards not by Sri Lanka or the Sri Lankan media but by global agencies like the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO) and many countries for what I have done for free health services in Sri Lanka. I have brought down the prices of nearly 75 essential drugs, thereby reducing the monthly medical bill of millions of diabetic, heart, arthritis, asthma and kidney patients in this country.

Since I was given the responsibility to run the Health Ministry in 2015, I have lifted the upper limit of Rs.1.5 million for free medication meant for cancer patients and today the Health Ministry spends up to Rs. 40 to 50 million for drugs per year to save the life of one cancer patient. A Stent for a heart patient costs around Rs. 450, 000. A contact lens for an eye patient costs around Rs. 30, 000. Both are today supplied by the Health Ministry free of charge saving the lives of thousands of heart patients and providing sight to thousands of patients. Stents and lenses are imported by the Health Ministry from the US and are of the highest quality. But the sad part of this is that I get calls from patients complaining that doctors were asking them to purchase Stents and contact lenses from the pharmacy they recommend. You know who gets the commission for from this process. They never talk about free Stents or lenses,” he noted.

Minister Senaratne noted that no one talks about the enormous service rendered to the country by the Indian funded ‘Suvasariya 1990’ free ambulance service that has saved the lives of millions by providing them with much needed pre-hospital care.

”This is a service ridiculed and insulted by the GMOA by saying it was an arm of the Indian secret service RAW and served by Indian doctors, medical staff and drivers depriving Sri Lankans of job opportunities,” Minister Senaratne charged.

Since 2015, the number of cancer units, blood banks, accidents services, maternity care units have doubled or even trebled in Sri Lanka providing more and more facilities to patients. The number of heart transplants, kidney transplants, arm and leg transplants have also increased with ultra-modern equipment, drugs etc being introduced and hundreds of new hospitals being constructed. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

 

Video by Buddhi


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  Comments - 26

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  • Jude Thursday, 17 January 2019 06:55 AM

    This guy ALWAYS in a Tussle with GMOA !! And those morons DON'T like Rajitha Drawing Breath !!! Yeah!!

    nalin Thursday, 17 January 2019 07:00 AM

    Well said. Teach those GOMA leeches a unforgettable lesson!

    Chris Thursday, 17 January 2019 07:02 AM

    It's high time someone stood up against the thug doctors and Uni Students

    ONLY THREATS WILL NOT WORK Thursday, 17 January 2019 07:04 AM

    Don't only threaten - take legal action now, if you have a back bone.

    Lankan Netizen Thursday, 17 January 2019 07:10 AM

    Hon. Rajitha, please sue the GMOa and put an end to their mafia. We the people are sick of them and their atrocities as well. Two or three politically and internationally funded crooks speak using the work of honest doctors who have nothing to do with the GMOA. Now giving birth is becoming a business to them as well. One of the most sacred events in a womans life is being monetized. They always force the patient into fear to perform C-section delivery instead of natural delivery since they can earn more. Also for a check up they would say her hormones are out of balance and make us spend more than 30k in scans alone. Please end this.

    Phantom Thursday, 17 January 2019 07:22 AM

    About time these frauds were put in their place!

    anura Thursday, 17 January 2019 07:31 AM

    Hello Hon. Minister, you are also just another Sri Lankan like all of us living in Sri Lanka. Why can't President appoint a presidential commission to investigate the activities of Health Ministry !! There is nothing to worry or jump up and down crying foul ,if you know for yourself that nothing illegal had happened under your administration.

    SR Thursday, 17 January 2019 07:48 AM

    It is difficult to understand both doctors (majority) and politicians (all) in Sri Lanka. Both parties feel insecure, highly unethical, act as inhuman and an uncivilized manner. General public have only god's (if there is any) help. By any chance if there is someone above us, humans, both these parties will have a hard time. Let's wish that happen sooner than later.

    Slay Thursday, 17 January 2019 07:56 AM

    It is about time that these vultures in the GMOA are taught a lesson of their lives

    City Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:10 AM

    Sir, please do it.no doubt that the public will be with you.there has to be an end for this.

    ANTON Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:15 AM

    YEP ! ........ FIRST START REMOVING THEIR DECAYED TEETH.

    aa Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:17 AM

    when his corruptions are going to be exposed, threatening is the only option he is left with. he never told why PSC was called to tample tree.

    ANTON Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:17 AM

    YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CHALLENGE THEM SAYING ..... " DATH TIKA BADATA YANDA DENNE"

    Citizen confused Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:18 AM

    Game on! Over to GMOA!!

    Perumal Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:26 AM

    Very good. It's about time this unruly beast called GMOA must be tamed and made to serve the patients instead of dabbling and fumbling in politics.

    K.L. Pathirana Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:45 AM

    This health ministry is headed by a crook named Rajitha. If he has nothing to hide why get paranoid ? Let an an independent panel look at the allegations I am sure GMOA has a valid reason to ask for an inquiry.

    Namal Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:46 AM

    GMOA is the biggest Cancer in our society that requires a speedy cure.

    Yahiya Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:52 AM

    Entire country knows GMOA is loss political agenda. Even there request is not recognized by the foreign mission. do not worry. Go ahead.

    Sara Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:53 AM

    Very good! Everyone should back Rajitha regardless of politics. Theres a huge Mafia controlled by these Docs that needs to be destroyed for the betterment of the country and the medical profession.

    Sara Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:55 AM

    Very good! Everyone should back Rajitha regardless of politics. Theres a huge Mafia controlled by these Docs that needs to be destroyed for the betterment of the country and the medical profession.

    cheers Thursday, 17 January 2019 08:56 AM

    So GMO'S trust Maithree than you as you are a ace rogue and you want to go to courts so you can offer money and get your verdict that corruption

    ranjan francis Thursday, 17 January 2019 09:04 AM

    Hon. minister's every word is a gem. He is forthright and bold with fact and figure. I do not know the political affliation of the current GMOA, but they play monopoly on the poor patients' destiny. Almost all Sri Lanka doctors including AMPs and RMPs, are dedicated and carry out their profession in noble manner, but the GMOA always rigid in their demand (eg: Their children needs better schools) in the pretext of maintaining higher standard of medical practice

    Kingsley Wijesinhe Thursday, 17 January 2019 09:09 AM

    What happened to the contempt of court case against GMOA president Padeniya? He was found guilty and sentencing was to take place later. What happened?

    SAM Thursday, 17 January 2019 09:40 AM

    Its best M3 take over the Health Ministry and run it. He has good experience of the past.

    Sen Thursday, 17 January 2019 07:35 PM

    What the trade-union actions taken by GMOA as well as babbling of Rajitha's is irritates public, my known people in Kalutara already decided to teach him good lesson. to his unusual pride and thick talk

    Jayanath Friday, 18 January 2019 10:44 AM

    Rajitha is one of the most corrupted minister who robs from medicine for poor country men. Also and opportunist bastard who has no principles his own. He change his color time to time for his survival. Not the GMO this bastard should be punished!


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