|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 19 December 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Lack of specialised units blow to burns victims by Ananda Kannangara About 10,000 burn victims are being admitted to general hospitals annually since there are no 'specialised burns units' in district hospitals in the country for their treatment except in Colombo and Kandy. This was observed by Consultant Surgeon, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Dr. Gamini Goonetilleke, in an interview with the "Sunday Observer" yesterday. Dr. Goonetilleke said that these two specialised units in Colombo and Kandy were unable to cope with the large number of burns victims in the country and therefore a majority of them were presently treated in general surgical wards in other hospitals. He said that the Government had to incur an expenditure of Rs. 200 million annually to treat such victims. As the former President of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, Dr. Goonetilleke said that he had urged the health authorities of previous governments to take appropriate measures to establish specialised burns units in every district hospital with qualified surgeons to deal with such cases." He said that out of 10,000 burns victims admitted to countrywide hospitals annually, at least 200 died due to non-availability of surgeons and specialised burns units. This was a big drawback and it was time that the authorities paid special attention and remedied the situation, he added. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
