Defence Secy earns plaudits for health initiative

Sri Lanka spends a colossal sum of money annually on free health services at all Government hospitals and dispensaries in the country. Not many countries offer such health services, ranging from a paracetamol tablet to a complicated coronary bypass or brain surgeries, free.

Even most of the so-called developed countries do not offer such a wide range of free health services. People in those countries are obliged to seek medical insurance to cover expenses on health services.

Regrettably, most employees in the public health sector, especially those in Government hospitals and dispensaries, have a mistaken notion that they are doing a favour to the masses by attending to their health needs. They seem to be oblivious of the fact that patients too have the right to get proper medical attention at Government hospitals at all times, as public funds are allocated to pay the salaries of all employees of Government hospitals.

More often than not, some doctors, nurses and attendants are indifferent to poor patients who seek treatment at Government hospitals. They fail to realise that these people pay taxes to the Government to meet the salaries of doctors, nurses and other hospital staff.

What is all the more baffling is that these same doctors adopt a different attitude and display incredible kindness and care for patients when they engage in private practice.

The Government's health sector gets crippled with unfailing regularity every year, invariably due to trade union action. Doctors, nurses, paramedics and minor employees take turns and resort to wildcat strikes at the drop of a hat. There had been innumerable instances where doctors had struck work even when one of their peers had been assaulted or threatened for personal reasons.

Health sector employees have a supreme responsibility and should desist from trade union action for the most trivial reason. Else, the huge Government investments channelled to the health services every year will not have the desired effect.

Rarely do we come across gentlemen doctors who spurn lucrative offers by multinational pharmaceutical companies and treat patients properly. The need of the hour is for more dedicated doctors and nurses if the true benefits of the Government's funds on health are to be passed on to patients.

It is now the trend for most people in urban and semi-urban areas to consult a specialist doctor even for a mild cough and cold whereas in most developed countries, patients seek treatment initially from their family doctor.

Unfortunately, most Sri Lankans have discarded the good old family doctor mainly due to the mindset created by the fast-growing private hospital network. It goes without saying that the family doctor knows best about the individual cases as he or she has a track record of his or her patients.

It is only when an illness is beyond his control that the family doctor refers his patients to a specialist physician and that too with a letter giving the background information of his patients.

On the other hand, we need to stress the importance of good health habits. The family doctor is the ideal person who could make an impact by conveying the message to the masses.

It is seen that people in most developed countries are more health-conscious and spend time on physical fitness on a regular basis. Though this wholesome habit is now spreading in urban areas, a greater effort has to be made to educate people across the length and breadth of the country.

There is an aphorism that prevention is better than cure. If one goes by the popular maxim that health is wealth, Sri Lanka could save a tidy sum on unnecessary medication.

In this scenario, it is heartening to note the praiseworthy efforts of Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on inculcating these good health habits to produce a healthy nation. Though this initiative has been made in Colombo and a few other provincial towns including Gampaha, it behoves officials to take the cue and implement similar programs in all parts of the country.

Rajapaksa's efforts to transform Colombo into a cleaner, greener and beautiful city has taken an added dimension. Convenient walkways have been constructed at Torrington Square, the former Racecourse and at the Parliament Drive to encourage the public to be more health conscious. The Defence Secretary last week also opened a new cycling track at Torrington Square.

The new cycling track fulfils a long-felt need of both the young and the old who make a beeline to Torrington Square regularly for their daily exercise. It is yet another facility to encourage people to be more health conscious.

The cycling track is the first of its kind in the city and similar facilities will be constructed in several parts of the city and other provincial towns as well. A 'rent-a-bike' centre run by the Colombo Cycling Club has also been set up for the benefit of those who travel in vehicles.

Defence Secretary Rajapaksa should be commended for his innovative ideas to develop Colombo and bring it on par with all modern cities in the world. Moreover, his concern to produce a healthy nation has won plaudits all-round.

Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil too should be hailed for extending his fullest support to the Defence Secretary's city development drive. The UNP-controlled Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) moved a resolution recently lauding the Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary for his untiring efforts to beautify the City of Colombo and develop infrastructure, thus taking a huge burden off the CMC's shoulders.

This was perhaps the first time in the country's Local Government history that the UNP citadel passed a resolution conferring credit and showering kudos on a member from a rival camp. Muzammil has stressed that the Defence Secretary's role in improving the city and its suburbs should be highly appreciated since this was in keeping with his cherished desire to provide better facilities for city folk.

The resolution followed the assurance by Defence Secretary Rajapaksa to tackle the garbage mountain in Kolonnawa and also the Government agreeing to work jointly with the CMC to provide assistance to those displaced due to the destruction of houses following the removal of the garbage mountain.

The long-standing garbage problem was a big headache for the CMC for decades on end, causing severe health hazards. Nevertheless, Rajapaksa's prompt action had helped Colombo to rid itself of garbage dumps strewn all over the city. This has given a turbo boost to improve the health facilities of people in the city.

The new political culture should be extended to other areas too in the country as it would give a better meaning to the Government's efforts in producing a healthy nation - a sound mind in a sound body.

The Health Ministry too could make a tangible contribution to such ventures by conducting more awareness campaigns and free public health camps to encourage people to pay more attention to their physical fitness and good health habits.

The Sports Ministry recently conducted a series of health camps at Torrington Square for people to get their basic health tests done. Such programs should be encouraged by all means with the maximum support of the doctors in the Health Ministry. A healthy nation would no doubt help reduce the soaring expenditure on the health sector and thereby pave the way for more efficiency and productivity in the country.