Proper regulation should be implemented for both the government hospital system and the private hospital system, says Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the Medical and Civil Rights Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance.
He points out that there is a regulatory council in the Ministry of Health to regulate private medical centers and hospitals, but that council is severely ineffective and dysfunctional, and that patients seeking medical treatment in the private sector are severely affected by the lack of this regulation.
He points out that there are many problems currently emerging, including different prices within the same private hospital, different prices for the same medical examination in different private hospitals, problems with patient bills, the lack of even the minimum health facilities that should be in place to ensure health safety and protect the lives of patients in some private hospitals, and the employment of unqualified doctors, nurses and health staff.
He further states that some private hospitals perform major surgeries but do not have blood bank, emergency medical treatment services, intensive care unit facilities or the necessary basic surgical equipment or laboratory equipment.
He points out that the Ministry of Health should conduct a special investigation into the death of a woman in a private hospital near Hiripura Cross Road in Galle recently and that the Ministry of Health should pay close attention to the inconvenience caused to patients due to surgeries performed in private hospitals that are run with minimal facilities.
He further states that the responsibility of the relevant specialist doctor should be maintained when a patient is admitted to a private hospital, but often some health professionals avoid taking responsibility for the patient’s pre- and post-operative care, resulting in patients having to seek medical treatment from multiple doctors for the same disease.
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa also said that the Ministry of Health’s private hospital regulatory activities have collapsed due to the influence of various parties, but since the Director General of Health Services is the responsible authority, he will act with more responsibility under the new government.
The relevant parties have already submitted evidence to the court regarding the deaths that occurred in several leading private hospitals in the island, and the Attorney General is conducting investigations.
He further said that he is ready to provide the necessary legal assistance if the Professional Association is informed about any irregularities occurring in private hospitals.