The People’s Movement for the Rights of Patients (PMRP) has expressed concern over the long delay in the implementation of the proposed Charter of Patients Rights and Responsibilities and the National Medicinal Drugs Policy.
A spokesman for the PMRP said Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had repeatedly promised to act fast to introduce legislation on these two policies, as part of moves to restore a health service where the well-being of the patients was given priority. High level committees were appointed to finalise legislation in consultation with the Legal Draftsman’s Department, but progress was painfully slow.
The spokesman said the patients would benefit immensely when the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities was made law, while quality drugs could be made available country-wide at affordable prices through the National Medicinal Drugs Policy.
A spokesman for the Health Ministry in response said the Minister was keen to expidite legislation for the benefit of the people, but the committees comprising all stakeholders were delaying the process.
As part of a national campaign to get the legislation on these matters expedited, the PMRP will conduct public awareness meetings in Colombo and elsewhere.
The first of these meetings will be held on Saturday January 31st from 9.00 am to noon at the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) hall, No. 281, Deans Road, Colombo.
The main speaker will be Dr. K. Balasubramaniam, Asia Pacific Co-ordinator for Health Action International and a member of the steering committee appointed by the Health Ministry to finalise the legislation for the Patients Charter. After the main speech a panel of health experts will lead a discussion on the topic. All are welcome.
The PMRP hopes to conduct similar public awareness meetings in Kandy and Ratnapura next month and in March. The spokesman said the PMRP was also pushing for a constitutional Amendment to make health a fundamental right.
A draft for this purpose –worked out by the PMRP in consultation with the Law and Society Trust--was submitted to the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs two years ago, but on this issue also little has been done by either Ministry. |
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