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| Friday, 14 November 2003 |
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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi The crisis at the Karapitiya Cardio-thoracic unit is expected to be solved next week despite disagreements among the trade unions. Hospital sources said the situation has been further worsened with no solution within sight by yesterday causing severe hardships to heart patients. Unconfirmed reports attribute that over 20 children with heart problems may have died due to this crisis over the last two months - some at hospitals and others at their homes due to the crisis at this unit. This particular unit has been facing a crisis over the last few weeks over the appointment of a new group of nurses. A senior Ministry official said the trade unions have failed to come to an agreement yet and the Ministry is considering giving a final solution by next week. "The Secretary will call a meeting of all those involved in this dispute and give his decision," the official added. In a bid to resolve the crisis at this unit, the Health Ministry decided to appoint six new nurses who had received their first appointment to the Karapitiya Hospital. Accordingly, the Ministry has decided to appoint a fresh batch of nurses and give them training. A Karapitiya Hospital spokesman said the problem remains unsolved as a group of six nurses appointed earlier are still refusing to withdraw from the unit defying the orders of the Director General of Health Services. "They have refused to withdraw from that unit and are remaining there violating discipline," the hospital spokesman added. The unit suffered another blow as the head of the Cardio-thoracic Unit Dr. Namal Gamage had kept away from operations or accepting new patients claiming that the decision to remove the newly appointed nurses is unjustifiable. Earlier, Public Services United Nurses Union (PSUNU) claimed that these appointments had been made in an irregular manner. "Our union members have extended full support to conduct this unit in a successful manner. We are ready to extend our support if these six nurses are removed." Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera added. Meanwhile, the Government Nurses Officers Association said they would protest the Director General's decision. "These nurses were selected after an interview and the posts were earlier advertised. We will protest against this decision of the DG as it has violated the professional rights of these nurses," Association President Saman Rathnapriya added. |
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