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Last Updated : 2024-04-29 13:23:00
16 March 2024 08:31 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo, March 16 (Daily Mirror) - A critical situation has arisen in the intensive care units (ICUs) at the National Hospital Colombo (NHC), requiring the assistance of janitorial workers for cleaning and maintenance purposes, Deputy Director of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Dr. Rukshan Bellana said.
He informed the Daily Mirror that a total of 11,000 staff, including minor staff, are involved in operating the 24-hour service at the NHC every day.
However, the situation at the hospital has changed over the past years, with hospital workers refusing to carry out their duties. Consequently, nurses and doctors have had to turn to the janitorial service staff for assistance, who now also handle the cleaning of drains, toilets and gully areas in the hospital.
According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Infection Prevention and Control Manual, staff assistance is required to clean all ICUs, theatres, hospital complexes and special treatment areas. These areas should be under the inspection control of nurses and doctors, ensuring proper guidance during cleaning procedures, Dr. Bellana said.
The janitorial workers lack specialized attire and have been brought into the theatres for cleaning purposes.
He said this situation has endured for the past few years, with the heads of the units consistently writing to the director of the NHC about the danger it poses to patients.
Meanwhile, a significant number of surgeries, including transplants and bypass surgeries, result in infections, yet the Health Ministry authorities turn a blind eye to the issue, he said.
"As a result, patients and the public are at risk of catastrophic infections within the hospital. Post-infection rates remain high, yet there has been no suggestion, through a study, that the cause could be attributed to procedural issues. All nurses are making concerted efforts to inform the administration, bringing this matter to the attention of Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana," he said.
He said despite the considerable expenditure by the public on maintaining good public health, authorities persist in remaining silent, thereby endangering the population.
"Hospitals worldwide adhere to strict procedures, a practice upheld in government hospitals and throughout the country. However, the NHC stands out as the sole institution disregarding these protocols. Despite this, the Health Secretary continues to overlook the matter, with files pertaining to disciplinary actions on this issue languishing in his office for the past four months," Dr. Bellana said.
"Nearly 200 specialists at the NHC are deeply concerned by the situation and have reached out to the WHO country office to outline the dangers. They have highlighted the inaction of the Ministry of Health Services, warning that it could result in a serious infection outbreak within a short period, not only in the country but also in the region," the doctor added.
FredSnR Saturday, 16 March 2024 09:47 AM
We have 225 MPS in Parliament cant someone check this, a public statement like this and take appropriate action, such a serious matter
Gon Badaa Saturday, 16 March 2024 10:15 AM
Oh I thought this guy insulted the janitors and now begging for their support
Suhada malli Saturday, 16 March 2024 12:08 PM
Hospitals should be allowed to use creative ways to earn some small donations or charges via an app direct to a hospital development fund. Eg each visitor coming to see a patient must register him/herself in the app and buy an e-visiting ticket paying Rs 100. One attendant per patient will get a free e-ticket. A voluntary donation once a successful visit is over (via mobile app) A PPP model at a voluntary basis. With private hospitals over pricing themselves, now there are middleclass citizens utilising government hospitals and some of them atleast will be appreciative of the savings they make and share part of it so that another patient will benefit. Developing such an app is not that expensive and the Dept of registration of persons has api to obtain majority of the citizen details. Utilising these monies a board of administration of that particular hospital should be able to have well trained janitorial tam in cleen uniforms.
Dispeciable idea to charge money at public hospitals Sunday, 17 March 2024 08:28 AM
Blocking the pay increases of the Central Bank Officials, or least those at the top would get similar monies compared to the rascal tricks suggested to take money from those poor who come to visit family member in hospital.
Too much coverage of this controversially talking doctor Saturday, 16 March 2024 03:58 PM
Maybe the doctor can donate 50% of his salary to employ the lacking staff. With is always speaking poorly of junior staff he is always courting controversy. Dr. Bellana must have been failure at medicine that he trying to do hospital administration, but from his talk he is an utter failure there too.
All the problems happened after Dr. Bellana came to the job Saturday, 16 March 2024 04:00 PM
Maybe a study should be done about Dr. Bellana might be causing the staff not to want to do their usual work. He is a menace with his poor people skills.
Reduce Government Official Perks Saturday, 16 March 2024 05:11 PM
Cut the parliamentarian’s and minister’s perks. With these savings, Chanel it to development of hospital and extra payments for staff retention.
AJ Sunday, 17 March 2024 03:17 PM
Recently read one political party promising to repeal bogus undeserving handout labeling ‘pension’ for parliamentarians,that’s good in this bankcrupt country, who directly responsible for economic failure
Tissa Fernando Sunday, 17 March 2024 06:23 PM
Dr Bellana is right. The workers who are supposed to clean the ICUs do not do so as a result they have to use the less trained less protected janitorial staff resulting in germs inside the ICU areas. I know many including my own sister who suffered for a long time due to a germ getting inside during a surgery. Funny people now are critical of Dr Bellana for pointing out this.
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