Regulate private healthcare services – Consultant Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa

The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) has urged the government to implement a proper regulatory system to state and private hospitals.

MCPA president Consultant Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, stated that although there was a regulatory council in the Health Ministry to regulate private medical centers and hospitals, the council was severely ineffective and inactive.

He also pointed out that patients who receive medical treatment from the private sector were severely affected by the lack of such regulations.

Dr. Sanjeewa said that there were many problems that are currently emerging, including different prices within the same private hospital, different prices for the same medical examination in different private hospitals, problems with patient bills, the lack of even the minimum health facilities that should be in place to ensure health safety and protect the lives of patients in some private hospitals, and the employment of unqualified doctors, nurses and health staff.

He said that some private hospitals perform major surgeries without having blood banks, emergency medical treatment services, intensive care unit facilities or the necessary basic surgical equipment or laboratory equipment.

According to Dr. Sanjeewa, the Health Ministry should conduct a special investigation into the recent death of a woman at a private hospital near Hiripura Cross Road in Galle and the Ministry should pay close attention to the inconvenience caused to patients due to surgeries performed in private hospitals that are run under minimal facilities.

He accused that the Ministry’s regulatory work on private hospitals has been hampered due to influence by various parties, but he hoped that the Director General of Health Services would act in a more responsible manner under the new government being the responsible authority.

"The relevant parties have already filed cases in court regarding deaths that occurred in several major private hospitals in the island and the Attorney General is conducting investigations. If the MCPA is informed about any irregularities occurring in those private hospitals, we can provide the necessary legal assistance," he said.