Health Ministry’s Epid Unit head removed

News

Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, under-fire Chief Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health, was removed on Friday, the TimesOnline reliably understands.

The move came hours after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat was critical over the manner in which the deaths from COVID-19 had been calculated.

The Epidemiology Unit, responsible for collection and dissemination of COVID-19 data, has come under severe criticism in recent months, from medical professionals over its alleged inept handling of this task.

It is learnt that Dr. Samaraweera’s deputy has been appointed as the acting Director. Meanwhile Dr. Samaraweera has been appointed as the head of the Dengue Control Unit. (KH)

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