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Top doctors, activists hit out at interdiction of whistleblower on malnutrition
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Dr. Ajith Amarasinghe
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
The interdiction of a doctor and trade unionist who sent out a public warning on malnutrition has brought out strong protests from a gamut of organisations including trade unions, both health and in other fields.
The interdiction of Medical Administrator Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa who stated that children in Suriyawewa in the south are malnourished is a blatant suppression not only of the rights of professionals particularly doctors who deal closely with the public but also trade unions, a media conference was told on Thursday by a powerful group which included very senior doctors.
Dr. Sanjeewa is the President of the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association (MCPA), registered under No. 9581 with the Labour Ministry. When asked, the Sunday Times was told that the MCPA is not affiliated to any political party.
“This interdiction will impact heavily and adversely on the public,” reiterated Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Ajith Amarasinghe from the Medical Professionals for System Change, who analyzed the sequence of events leading to the interdiction to show the allegedly flawed process.
The other organisations represented in addition to the MCPA and the Medical Professionals for System Change were the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS); the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA); the Doctors’ Association of Sri Lanka; the Government Medical Professionals’ Association; the All Ceylon Medical Officers’ Association which is affiliated to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP); and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Professional Alliance.
Among the senior doctors present, in addition to Dr. Amarasinghe, were Dr. Sarath Gamini de Silva, Dr. Rohan Gunawardene add Dr. Sunil Wijayasinghe.
A media conference was held on Thursday by a powerful group which included very senior doctors. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
The sequence of events as given by Dr. Amarasinghe is:
- In September, Dr. Sanjeewa declares to the media about child malnutrition.
- An order is issued by the Public Service Commission (PSC) signed by its Secretary L.A. Kalukapuarachchi dated October 25 addressed to the Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandraguptha and copied to Dr. Sanjeewa that he (Dr. Sanjeewa) has been interdicted.
- The interdiction is based on an inquiry conducted on October 10 by the Health Ministry after which the Health Secretary had written to the PSC, quoting the Second Section, Chapter XLVIII, Clause 31.1.15 of the Establishment Code as grounds for interdiction.
- A letter dated November 3, however, addressed to Dr. Sanjeewa by the Health Ministry has stated that he has been interdicted as he gave the media false information and also did not take permission from the Health Ministry before speaking to the media.
Dr. Amarasinghe questioned whether it is wrong for any member in the health sector to comment on a health trend. Will a doctor who says that he sees an increasing trend in dengue infections be interdicted? Will a public health inspector who talks of bakeries in the area under his purview being unhygienic be interdicted?
“This is unprecedented, targeted and vengeful. Usually, in other countries whistleblowers are praised for exposing issues. The interdiction has been done under the last and ‘very vague’ Clause 31.1.15,” said Dr. Amarasinghe, pointing out that it is also a clear violation of the Constitutional right of Dr. Sanjeewa which ensures freedom of expression. Another factor is that Dr. Sanjeewa is the head of a trade union registered under No. 9581 with the Labour Ministry, which gives him leeway to speak out.
He said that it is not only Dr. Sanjeewa who has disclosed that there is malnutrition. There is public discussion that people who were eating three meals a day are now having only two, that those who ate two meals are not even having one but just a plain tea. International agencies including UN agencies are talking about malnutrition. So without checking out whether there is malnutrition in the country or in a particular area through a scientific assessment, the person who highlighted it is ostracized and interdicted.
According to Dr. Amarasinghe another major concern that arises is whether the so-called inquiry against Dr. Sanjeewa was conducted according to due process. If the Health Ministry deemed that he had violated the Establishment Code, was the inquiry conducted by an officer knowledgeable in medical matters?
While all speakers stressed about suppression, spreading fear that no one should expose the truth, muzzling of free expression and attempts to sweep the truth under the rug by such an interdiction, FUTA’s Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri made a stark point.
“The University of Colombo is providing a glass of milk to each undergraduate under a recently-launched programme because there is a huge problem with nutrition,” he said.
Meanwhile, attempts to contact the Secretary of the Health Ministry failed.
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