New mobile drug tests bus deployed

Another fully equipped mobile clinical bus was presented to the National Transport Medical Institute by the Ministry of Health to further streamline the random drug testing programme conducted for a safer public transport service.

This was at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health premises today (10).

Health and Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa officially handed over this special clinical bus to the Chairman of the National Transport Medical Institute Professor Clifford Perera.

This step was taken in accordance with the two-year strategic plan on road safety launched by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.

This programme, which randomly tests drivers, conductors, and bus assistants engaged in public transport, is currently successfully implemented covering five provinces.

With these newly added facilities, plans are underway to expand this testing process to the remaining provinces of the island by developing the required physical and human resources.

A total of 7,150 drug tests were conducted so far under this national programme, and the primary objective here is to minimize loss of life and property damage caused by road mishaps through inter-ministerial cooperation.

Deputy Minister of Health Dr Hansaka Wijemuni, Additional Secretaries to the Ministry of Health and Media Janaka Kithsiri Gunawardena, Specialist Doctor Kumara Wickramasinghe, Harshani Sirinama, Director of Transport Muditha Wimalasena, and Medical Superintendent of the Kattankudy Hospital Doctor M.S.M. Jabil, among others, participated in the occasion.