Regulating Private Practice

A press conference was called yesterday to brief steps taken in the Ministry of health for the benefit of the Public. In this conference  Minister of Health, Rajitha Senaratne said that the Government has decided to introduce certain  standards and regulations to regularize private practice in Srilanka. This has been done even in developed countries. In the first instance maximum amount that could be charged for channeling by a medical Institution will be limited to Rs 2,000 and the Consultant Doctor will be required to examine and  spend 10 minutes per patient. After operation Doctor concerned will be required to be by the side of the patient for one hour. We had discussions to limit charges levied for various services with the people concerned in the medical field. We cannot strictly impose impracticable terms and conditions in the medical field. However, in future all medical charges imposed by the private medical practitioners and private medical Institutions will be determined and monitored by the Ministry of Health, he concluded.

“As to diseases, make a habit of two things- to help, or at least to do no harm” –Hippocrates