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I refer to the letter ‘Patients’ rights’ appearing in the Daily News
of February 12 written by Dr. M.T. Reffai.
Not only do I fully agree to what Dr. M.T.R. had stated in that
letter but also experienced it when a close relative of mine was refused
admission for a major operation at the National Hospital, Colombo.
The patient consulted a specialist, took some expensive tests
spending several thousands of rupees and showed the reports to the
doctor who then said that an early operation had to be performed and
that the cost would be around rupees three lakhs.
When told that much of money could not be found, the doctor had
advised him to get admitted at the National Hospital and issued the
necessary letters.
Having visited the hospital, he had showed the doctor’s letter and
the results of the tests done to a couple of staff there, but no one had
bothered to admit him. Or in other words, nobody had cared for him to do
anything related to his admission.
Being disgusted, he then consulted another doctor who asked for
rupees two lakhs and having borrowed some money did the operation in a
private hospital. At the time of writing this, he is resting at home
after being successfully operated in a hospital.
By God’s blessings doctors are earning in no small measure, yet some
doctors are playing with the lives of people who have no big amounts to
spend for operations.
If doctors who had to show kindness and mercy to the patients would
not do it, from whom can the innocent sick seek relief? Is money
everything in life and could the money follow us on our last journey?
What power could the doctors use to take their greedily saved money to
be with them while they rest in peace?
I still do not know whether any doctor, for that matter the
specialists, at least visit their villages once on a Poya Day and offer
their free services for those villagers who cannot afford to consult
specialists and gain some merits which could be beneficial for them in
their next birth.
While most doctors are of this nature, there are some doctors who are
really kind, compassionate and helpful too for those who approach them
for medical purposes or to the suffering patients who consult them. The
kind words of such doctors itself cure the patients considerably.
It was published in an English newspaper by the Maharagama Cancer
Hospital looking for urgent public assistance to provide the hospital a
Conventional Stimulator and a High-dose Brachy Therapy Unit the cost of
which will be Rs. 60 million and 30 million respectively.
If the doctors of our country are generous enough such machines could
be certainly installed in that hospital.
Even big private companies which spend millions for their
advertisements and other tamashas could also assist with these
requirements.
The most deserving sick people for all sorts of care and assistance
are the cancer patients. Should one visit that hospital and come across
small children with bandages on their heads one will regret for not
having brought enough money to help them in some way.
So pathetic, so sorrowful to see them.
During my employment in a State corporation I was able to arrange a
donation of thousands of rupees every month deducted from the pay roll
of most of the employees towards that hospital which, I hope, is still
continuing though I have left the workplace.
Since a small contribution from the pay packet every month is not
going to be that much a financial burden, I request other institutions
too to arrange such a donation towards a worthy cause which will give a
greater satisfaction in our life.
Welfare Societies of workplaces please take note of this and try to
organise a monthly donation.
NAZLY CASSIM -
Colombo 13
Reference the letter published in the Daily News on February 14 on
the above topic. The Panadura Urban Council is openly dumping its
garbage on a land closer to the Panadura Railway Station without any
treatment.
This unsystematic dumping of waste in an unsuitable land causes
several environmental, health and social problems in the neighbourhood.
The Panadura Urban Council is the responsible authority of the
management of solid waste in their jurisdiction under the regulation of
the Urban Council Ordinance.
The total garbage collection of the Panadura UC is approximately 20
tons per day. At present, the Panadura UC does not have a proper plan
for the management of solid waste generated in the area.
On receiving many complaints the CEA inspected the particular places
and informed them on several occasions to stop the ad hoc disposal of
waste and to implement a suitable waste management system.
Further to that being the regulatory body, the CEA issued a directive
to the Panadura UC in order to initiate legal perception.
On the other hand, the CEA expressed its willingness to assist to
establish a suitable environmental sound waste management system in
collaboration with the Western Province Waste Management Authority and
financial support of the Ministry of Environment under the ‘Pilisaru’
programme.
However, city dwellers also have a responsibility to contribute to
find a solution and give their fullest co-operation to implement the
waste management solution through the 3R concepts (Reduce, Reuse and
Recycle).
However, this is a countrywide problem that all citizens and
concerned parties have to take their own responsibility towards a clean
environment.
Waste Management Unit -
Central Environmental Authority
I appreciate very much the letter titled ‘Culture and heritage’ from
Li Kuang Shu of Kandy appearing in the Daily News on March 9. I wish
many more writers like Shu live in our cultural capital - Kandy.
ARYADASA YAPA
It is a shocking piece of news appearing on the front page of the
Daily News of March 6 quick look column that an indoor patient of the
Matara General Hospital found a 1 1/2 inch nail in a vegetable rotti
served at the hospital canteen.
How careless the canteen keeper was in supplying food items to indoor
patients. If he had swallowed it, he would have had to undergo a surgery
to take it out. If an outdoor patient or visitor had swallowed it, he
would have been admitted to hospital for operation.
I think the Hospital Welfare Society is not vigilant about the
canteen. It should be noted that the canteen keeper should exercise
great care when preparing food specially rotti etc. done by the cooks or
specialist in making a variety of shorteats.
Once in a way, the canteen keeper or the welfare officers should
inspect the work of the people making rotti in the canteen. If the rotti
maker finds no inspection or supervision done by a higher authority, he
will take little care in doing his work.
M. Y. M. MEEADH -
Dumbuluwawa
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