Rajitha Contemplates Stern action Against Doctors Referring Patients for Blood Tests to Private Institution

 Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said,  that the necessary equipment had been provided to the hospitals  by 31 December 2016 to carry out blood tests on all patients admitted. Hence, he has  banned doctors from directing patients for blood tests to private institutions. He warned hospital directors who fail to  comply with the order that stern  action will be taken against them.

Senaratne had ordered the Secretary to the Health Ministry, Anura Jayawickrema, to issue a special circular banning blood tests at private clinics for patients in government hospitals.

According to the media unit of the Health Ministry, the implementation of this proposal will be closely monitored by the ministry and disciplinary action will be taken against hospital directors who fail to implement the proposal.
However, commenting on the matter, All Ceylon Nurses’ Union (ACNU) President Gamini Kumarasinghe said, most of the hospitals do not have adequate facilities to carry out blood tests on patients admitted and minister is making statements to gain popularity.

He added, the government hospitals do not have the equipment to test whether a patient is diagnosed with dengue and that test has to be conducted from a private institution.

Meanwhile, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) General Secretary Dr. Naveen de Soysa said doctors have no motives to direct patients to the private sector for blood testing if the blood testing is available in the hospitals, but the patients should have the option of having his or her blood tested at a private institution when State hospitals do not have blood testing facilities.