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CMC lab comes under Govt. Audit microscope
View(s):Irregularities said to be taking place in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC)-run City Microbiological Lab are being probed by the Government Audit, CMC sources said.
They said the audit investigation was launched after CML chief Anna Kariywasam wrote to Colombo Mayor A.J. M. Muzamil alleging that CMC authorities were responsible for huge losses suffered by the lab last year.
It is alleged that the lab was deprived of more than Rs. 25 million in revenue following a decision by the council authorities to stop the lab from carrying out blood tests on food handlers working in hotels and eateries.
The CMC last year told the lab staff not to carry out blood tests on food handlers during office hours because the lab was set up to serve the poor people living in Colombo.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni told the Sunday Times that the ongoing inquiry by the Government Audit was to ascertain the propriety of the payments to the CML staff for carrying out medical clearance test on food handlers.
Until 2015, the CMC had shared 35 percent of the lab’s income earned through blood and other tests done on food handlers with the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and the technical staff of the lab.
Dr. Wijemuni said the CMC had not obtained proper approval from Western Province Governor or the Chief Secretary before effecting the arrangement.
It is learnt some 10,000 food handlers have obtained medical clearance certificates from the pathology unit of the CMC.
Dr. Wijemuni said the Food Act did not require food handlers and kitchen workers to be medically tested for communicable diseases such as typhoid, cholera and hepatitis. But CMC made such medical tests mandatory for all food handlers in hotels and eateries.
In a sudden move the CMC early last year took a decision to disallow its lab to conduct pathological tests on blood samples during office hours, claiming that the work compromises the focus on the service to the poor. It was argued that the lab was set up primarily for the poor people and its staff were losing sight of their priorities.
Municipal Commissioner B.K. Anura said the decision to stop the tests done on food handlers was taken by him.
He said that according to the Food Act the tests need not necessarily be done by the CMC. He refuted claims that the CMC officials had made arrangements with a private lab in Maradana and were directing the food handlers to this lab. He said the medical tests could be done in any registered medical laboratory and it would be accepted by the CMC.
Ms. Kariyawasam declined to comment.