Issuance of statements to the media on the day of the issuance of statements to all Provincial Health Secretaries, all Heads of Institutions under the Ministry of Health, All Provincial Directors of Health Services, All Regional Directors of Health Services, signed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr. SH Munasinghe.
It said that providing various data and information and criticizing health policies had hampered the provision of proper health care to the public and that it was a breach of public trust.
Therefore, the letter further stated that such acts should not be continued and that disciplinary action would be taken against all those who disregarded them.
Ravi Kumudesh, the President of the Government Medical Laboratory Professionals Association had stated that this circular is being used to give oral contraceptives to health workers. He further pointed out that 75% of the health workers have to tell the media due to the arbitrary actions of the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, Hambantota Zonal Director of Health Services, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa has been informed by the Health Secretary that the Health Secretary has initiated a disciplinary inquiry into the incident.
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa was not only a doctor but also a journalist. He was a foreign writer even before he entered the medical field. Even after he became a doctor, he continued to write articles for newspapers and had close ties with the media.
The Interim Medical Services United Front states that all trade unions are responding sensitively to this injustice done to a progressive physician.