All staff at Sri Jayawardenapura hospital, including Consultants, will have to retire at age 60, with immediate effect, its Management decided at an emergency Board meeting held on Thursday, a senior official at the hospital said.
He said the decision was taken after the Health ministry decided to implement changes at the Jaywardenapura hospital following a series of administrative issues affecting the quality of service at the hospital.
The Management also decided that, in future, any staff member on reaching age 57, would have to obtain prior approval on an annual basis, from the Health Ministry, through the Board of Directors, to remain in employment till the retirement age of 60 years.
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| Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital, Kotte |
The Sunday Times learns that the circular pertaining to retirement at 60 was issued in 2008, but was not implemented until the decision taken on Thursday.
These moves come after the Health Ministry appointed a three-member committee headed by Deputy Health Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to look into a series of allegations including irregular Tender procedures, misuse of facilities at the hospital, losses incurred among others.
“We have met with staff members, union representatives and the administration on 21 different occasions and submitted a full report to the Health Minister on changes to be implemented, to ensure that people benefit from the hospital to its maximum potential”, Mr. Amaraweera told the Sunday Times.
He said that they were looking at ways of improving the facilities without increasing fees charged from patients at the hospital.
Sri Jayawardenapura hospital was a gift from Japan to mark the close relations with Sri Lanka during the tenure of former President J.R. Jayewardene. Hospital facilities are made available for a fee.
However, medical staff at the hospital were also allowed to carry out their private practice at the hospital, which union members allege are being misused by the Consultants.
However, the Consultants have disputed union allegations, claiming that private practice is carried out only after their duty hours, and that, they receive their payments via the hospital, after deduction of the taxes.
“The Consultants, through their private practice, have been helping the Management to enhance revenue and offset losses”, a surgeon, who did not wanted to be quoted, said.
The Sunday Times learns that one of the serious issues at the hospital has been the malfunctioning of the 27-year-old air conditioning system, which has not been replaced. As a result, the operating theaters have been affected.
Among the other issues have been the opening of new units for political reasons, without the required staff or the necessary equipment.
Both, Chairman of the Hospital, N.W.E. Wijewantha and Director Dr D.L.D Lanarolle declined to comment on allegations about the shortcomings of the hospitals or the new changes. |
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