REGISTERED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF POST QD/27/NEWS 2014
November 2013, VOLUME 06 ISSUE 11
The University of Colombo...
Page 03
Recent Activities of SLMA...
SLMA and Batticaloa Medical... www.slmaonline.info
Page 04
Page 12 - 13
EFFICACY The golden poison dart frog from Columbia, considered the most poisonous creature on earth, is a little less than 2 inches when fully grown. Indigenous Emberรก, people of Colombia have used its powerful venom for centuries to tip their blowgun darts when hunting, hence the species' name. The EFFICACY of its venom is such that it can kill as much as 10 grown men simply by coming into contact with their skin. Knowing the importance of EFFICACY in the world of medicine, GSK, after years of research and development, developed Augmentin, the antibiotic with a high EFFICACY rate in healing people.
Your Trusted Partner
Further information available on request from:
GlaxoWellcome Ceylon Ltd. 121, Galle Road, Kaldemulla, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Tel:2636 341 Fax:2622 574
SLMANEWS
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE SRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
November 2013 Volume 06 Issue 11
Contents
President's Column
Page No.
Dear all, It is a pleasure and a privilege to address you again. This month we were involved in quite a few activities. We had a Joint Clinical Meeting with the Batticaloa Clinical Society on the 7th and 8th of November 2013. The first day was a programme for doctors (in English) and the second day was for nurses (in Tamil). These events, particularly the one for nurses were well attended and deeply appreciated by the participants. The main thrust of these programmes was on Childhood Nutrition and the event was sponsored by UNICEF. We had a Joint Meeting with the Ruhunu Clinical Society on the 20th and 21st of November 2013. I was invited to deliver the Ruhunu Clinical Society Lecture on “Games and Exercise for a Healthy Lifestyle” at the Inauguration. On the 21st we had two Free Paper Sessions several Plenary Lectures, a Principal Symposium and the launching of the SLMA Guidelines on Decompression Sickness. The programme was well taken by the audience. On the 28th November 2013 we had a full day workshop on Research. This was funded by INASP, Oxford UK. It was a comprehensive hands-on event and the feed-back from the participants was most encouraging. In addition, on the 30th November 2013 we had a session on “Using Systematic Reviews for Evidence Based Practice” organised by the SLMA Research Promotion Committee. On the 30th November 2013 we had a very successful Joint Clinical Meeting with the Clinical Society of Wathupitiwala Base Hospital at Hotel Hot Edge. This was the 3rd consecutive annual academic event of SLMA with the Wathupitiwala Clinical Society. These are activities that have been designed to augment our Continuous Professional Development Activities. We hope that these ventures would be taken to even greater heights in the future. With the very best of wishes. Dr B J C Perera President, Sri Lanka Medical Association, No.06, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder
2
The University of Colombo receives the Prestigious “Yuji Murata Endowment Award – 2013”
3
New SLMA cloak designed by Nimanthika Soysa
3
Recent Activities of SLMA Expert Committee on Ergonomics
4
SLMA and Batticaloa Medical Association (BMA) Joint Regional Meeting 2013
12-13
An effort to enhance awareness on patients’ rights and privacy in medical care settings
14
Dr. Bertram S Perera MBBS (Ceylon) FRCA (Eng)
16
Department of health services southern provinceYet another achievement
18
Our Advertisers GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. The Havelock City Project MCSL Financial Service Limited National Development Bank PLC. A.Baurs & Co. (Pvt.)Ltd. Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC | Sri Lanka Toyota Lanka (Pvt)Ltd. International Institute of Health Sciences. Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) Plc. Hemas Hospitals (Pvt) Ltd State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka George Steuart Health. Astron Ltd. Emerchemie NB (Ceylon) Ltd. GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals.
Official Newsletter of The Sri Lanka Medical Association. Tele : 0094 - 112 -693324 E mail - slma@eureka.lk Publishing and printing assistance by
This Source (Pvt.) Ltd etc.,
No 3/1, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka Tele: +94-115-921317/0773684513 marketing@thissource.com
1
SLMANEWS
November, 2013
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder This is how it manifests: I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing. As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys on the table, Put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, And notice that the can is full. So, I decide to put the bills back On the table and take out the garbage first... But then I think, Since I'm going to be near the mailbox When I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my check book off the table, And see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, So I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Pepsi I'd been drinking. I'm going to look for my checks, But first I need to push the Pepsi aside So that I don't accidentally knock it over. The Pepsi is getting warm, And I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the Pepsi, A vase of flowers on the counter Catches my eye--they need water.
Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, But I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, So I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, But first I'll water the flowers. I pour some water in the flowers, But quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back on the table, Get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to Remember what I was planning to do. At the end of the day: The car isn't washed, The bills aren't paid, There is a warm can of Pepsi sitting on the counter, The flowers don't have enough water, There is still only 1 check in my check book, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, And I don't remember what I did with the car keys. Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day, And I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem,
I put the Pepsi on the counter and
And I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail....
Discover my reading glasses that
Do me a favor.
I've been searching for all morning.
Forward this message to everyone you know,
I decide I better put them back on my desk,
P.S. I don't remember who sent it to me, so if it was you, I am sorry
But first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter ,
2
Fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.
http://www.royalrife.com/multitasking.html
SLMANEWS
November, 2013
The University of Colombo receives Yuji Murata Endowment award -2013
T
he research paper titled “Haplotypes of Heparin-binding EGF- like Growth Factor (HBEGF) gene are associated with preeclampsia� published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research [2012 Jan;38(1):239-46. DOI: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2011.01700.x] was awarded the Yuji Murata Endowment Award - 2013 by the Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOFOG). The paper was based on the PhD work of Gayani Harendra under the supervision of Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayaka and Prof. Rohan W Jayasekara which reported the above mentioned association for the first time in the world. The Yuji Murata Endowment Award is awarded to the best paper in the field of fetal and maternal medicine published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research. The awardee is selected by a Committee comprising the Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research and Chairman of the Journal Com-
mittee of AOFOG, AOFOG maternal and fetal Committee Chairman and representative from Yuji Murata Foundation, Japan. The award was presented to Dr. Gayani Harendra at the Opening Ceremony of the XXIII Congress of
AOFOG held in Bangkok, Thailand from 20-23 October 2013. This award signifies international recognition for the groundbreaking research work carried out in the Human Genetics Unit of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
New SLMA cloak designed by Nimanthika Soysa FRONT VIEW
BACK VIEW
Prof Sheriff Deen and Prof Priyani Soysa in newly designed SLMA cloak at the Inauguration of the 126th Anniversary Scientific Medical Congress
3
SLMANEWS
November, 2013
Recent Activities of SLMA Expert Committee on Ergonomics Inculcating Ergonomics in the Sri Lankan Settings The Expert Committee on Ergonomics - Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA - ECE) organized a one day symposium on ergonomics as a pre-congress workshop of the Annual Academic Congress of the SLMA 2013 in collaboration with National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) with the support from National Science Foundation (NSF), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Mobitel Pvt Ltd. The international collaborator of NSF, Prof Karen Jacobs, Clinical Professor & Program Director of Boston University, USA and former chairperson of the Ergonomics for Children and Educational Environments (ECEE), Technical Committee of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA), participated as a resource person of the workshop and several other post-symposium activities conducted in relation to ergonomics. Two other world renowned ergonomists; Prof David Caple of La Trobe University, Australia and Prof John Abeysekaraof Work Science Academy, Consultant Community Physicians, Medical Administrators and Bio-informatics specialists were key resource persons. An organizing committee comprised of members of SLMA – ECE played the key role in planning and imple-
4
mentation of the proposed project. An abstract book was published with the profiles of key note speakers, abstracts of presentations and the programme. This symposium was organized with the objective to disseminate ergonomic concepts and good practices to a multitude of partners from different sectors; health, corporate, labour and education with the aim of catalyzing the application of human factor principles in wider spectrum of fields. The opening ceremony session was attended by Mr. WJLU Wijayaweera -Secretary - Ministry of Labour & Labour Relations, Dr. Deepthi Perera - Director (Maternal
& Child Health / Ministry of Health), Prof Karen Jacobs, Prof David Caple, Prof Sujeewa Amarasena (Consultant Paediatrician), Mr. Janaka Karunasena (NSF), Dr. Champika Amarasinghe (Director General, NIOSH) and Dr. Kapila Jayaratne - Chairperson (SLMA-ECE). A heterogeneous group of more than 180 professionals from different fields; Public health specialists, Ergonomists, Paediatricians, University Lecturers, Scientists, Industrialists, Journalists, Education & Health Ministry officials, Under graduate & postgraduate trainees, OSH students, Physiotherapists, other medical specialists and private sector executives participated at the symposium. Contd. on page 06
SLMANEWS
November 2013 Contd. from page 04
Recent Activities... The symposium covered different areas of ergonomics, its application and possible consequences of mismatched ergonomics by related professionals from both local and international levels; Prof. David Caple covered the Ergonomics: The Broader Perspective and Dr.Kapila Jayaratne talked on Ergonomics, an evolving speciality: Applicability in the Sri Lankan contexts. Prof Karen Jacobs shared her experiences on Child health and Ergonomics. Dr.S M Arnold, Community Physician, elaborated Ergonomics as a Health & Safety measure in occupational settings and Dr.Champika Amarasinghe, Director General, NIOSH of the Ministry of Labour & Labour Relations spoke on Industrial Ergonomics. Community Physicians, Dr. Diana Samarakkody and Dr.Inoka Suraweera discussed Ergonomics and Road Safety and Health Consequences of Mismatched Ergonomics respectively. Prof John Abeysekara explained Home ergonomics while Dr.Nishan Siriwardane, Specialist in Bioinformatics, talked on Computer ergonomics. Leading academia related to the discipline; Prof Rohini Seneviratne, Dr. Fidrosi Mehta, Prof John Abeysekara, Dr. Deepthi Perera, Dr. Deepthi Samarage and Dr. Susie Perera co-chaired three sessions. A panel discussion was held with the participation of experts from different sectors to delineate the way forward in the field of ergonomics in the Sri Lankan settings. The main drawback in inculcating
6
ergonomics in industrially-developing contexts is the lacunae in knowledge. The pre-congress workshop on “Inculcating Ergonomics in the Sri Lankan Setting” was the first-ever health-led symposium in the evolving discipline of ergonomics in the country. This workshop attracted many professionals from different sectors both from local and international levels to share and transfer the new knowledge on ergonomics and human factors. Local experts working in isolation on different ergonomic scenarios had the opportunity to meet and share their work/experience at this workshop. It was an eye-opener and an effective platform to move forward with feasible ergonomic strategies with multi-sector involvement.
Post-symposium activities Several post-symposium activities were conducted jointly with NSF, NIOSH and SLMA-ECE to maximally utilize the presence of key overseas resource persons.
Child ergonomics for education & health sector stakeholders Consultant Community Physicians; Dr. Ayesha Lokubalasuriya and Dr. Manjula Danansuriya, national program managers of school health & adolescent health of Family Health Bureau coordinated a Stakeholder program on child ergonomics involving Ministries of Health & Education. Prof Karen Jacobs conducted a hands-on experience workshop on ergonomics for about 55 participants. Dr. Deepthi Perera, Director (Mater-
nal & Child Health) appreciated the efforts of SLMA – ECE in uplifting the health of children in the country. Healthy schoolbag, computer ergonomics and ergonomics in classroom settings were discussed with the active participation of different categories of officials from health and education sector.
Ergonomics Knowledge Sharing Programme for Scientists At the Auditorium -National Science Foundation, a Knowledge Sharing Programme for Scientists, Telehealth & Ergonomics was done by Prof Karen Jacobs for about 70 participants. She elaborated on various aspects of ergonomics related to telehealth from industrially-developed settings. Contd. on page 08
November, 2013 Contd. from page 06
Recent Activities... The participants were encouraged to focus on ergonomic activities while they are working in different settings.
Ergonomic awareness for teachers of international schools The SLMA-ECE also initiated ergonomic activities for teachers of international schools with the participation of Prof Karen Jacobs at Gateway College. This was attended by about 95 teachers. Dr. Kapila Jayaratne introduced the healthy schoolbag to international school teachers. Prof David Caple, did a lecture on Industrial Ergonomics for industrialists of Sri Lanka at the NIOSH Auditorium. The above activities of SLMA-ECE paved the way for further dissemination of knowledge on ergonomics and stimulation of possible application of the science to approximately 390 stakeholders in a wide spectrum of fields. The programme, in reality, benefited not the Expert Committee on Ergonomics of Sri Lanka Medical Association but also the country in broader terms. As a result it will contribute towards the advancement of the discipline of ergonomics in the country and also ergonomic applications in uplifting the national development especially in the fields of; 1. Occupational Safety & Health 2. Child ergonomics with emphasis on safe classroom environment & road safety 3. Computer ergonomics –focus was on mitigation of negative consequences and introduction of Stretch-Break, an ergonomic software for kids 4. Home ergonomics 5. Ergonomics in healthcare settings The SLMA – ECE, being a newly established professional group, could showcase its capacity in transfer of knowledge and contributed to the national efforts in making a healthier nation.
8
SLMANEWS
10
SLMAN
November, 2013
SLMA and Batticaloacaloa M Joint Regional Meeting 2013
S
LMA and Baticaloa joint clinical meeting was held on 7th November 2013 at teaching hospital. There was much interest among the doctors in and around Batticaloa regarding this meeting and over 100 doctors were present. The main theme of the meeting was Infant and Maternal Nutrition. A traditional welcoming dance kicked off the proceedings and Dr. A. Parthiepan, President BMA giving the welcome speech mentioned, input regarding nutrition that is acutely needed in the district and thanked the SLMA for addressing this need. Dr. B. J. C. Perera, President SLMA speaking on behalf of the SLMA traced the close association of the SLMA and the BMA in the recent past and enumerated the reasons why SLMA places such a big emphasis on regional meetings. Dr. Rajiv Sathanandaraja, Consultant Neonatologist of Colombo South Teaching Hospital, then took to the podium to speak about infant feeding. He specially concentrated on practical issues that can crop up and how best to overcome them. Dr. Shanthini Ganeshan, Consultant Paediatrician of TH Mulleriyawa, spoke about prevention and treatment of malnutrition. She drew on her experience working in the same region during tsunami time and conflict days, and explained about special nutritional supplements available when treating malnutrition. Nutritional situation in Batticaloa district was described by
12
Dr. Srinath, MO- MCH Batticaloa, and he gave various demographic factors which affect nutritional status within the district. Dr. Chithra Vamadevan, Consultant Paediatrician of TH Batticaloa brought the morning session to a close with her talk on Nutrition of female children and the impact on their offspring. She explained how this can become a vicious cycle and identified possible places where this cycle can be broken. There were two well attended parallel symposiums in the afternoon session. SLMA “Nirogi matha and Nirogi Pada� program with the collaboration of Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Consultant Surgeon of TH Batticaloa talked about gestational diabetes and diabetic foot care while Dr. Samanmali Sumanasena, Consultant Paediatritian and Senior Lecturer in Disability Studies with Dr. Leenika Wijerathna Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry of University of Kelaniya concentrated on identifying early childhood disabilities. A nutritional workshop for Public Health Midwives, Nurses and Nursing students was held on the following day with the same resource personnel. Again this was also very popular and the organisers had to provide extra seating to accommodate all the participants. SLMA wishes to thank BMA for its help in organising this highly successful meeting and UNICEF for bearing the financial costs.
SLMA representation at the Batticaloa meeting.
November, 2013
NEWS
Medical Association (BMA) 3
Some of the foreign medical students who attended the meeting.
Dr. Samanmali Sumanasena during the symposium on early identification of childhood disabilitites.
Dr. BJC Perera speaking behalf of the SLMA.
13
SLMANEWS
November, 2013
An effort to enhance awareness on patients’ rights and privacy in medical care settings By the Expert Committee on Women’s Health
In almost all circumstances, a patient who presents to his or her doctor with a particular ailment, injury, or other medical concern will need to undergo a physical examination in order to assist the doctor in making a diagnosis. Physical examination almost always requires the doctor to touch the patient. Some examinations may require the patient to disrobe (in part or in full) while some may result in a level of physical or mental discomfort for the patient. As such, the patient may feel vulnerable, anxious, embarrassed, or physically uncomfortable depending on the nature of the examination. Further, in Sri Lanka with the different types of ethnicities, consideration should be given for potential cultural sensitivities. Sri Lankan health system has specified its measures to ensure patients’ rights and privacy in medical care settings. In this regards, by a general circular from the Ministry of Health, circular number 1706, requires that a female member of the staff should be present when a male doctor examines a female patient. Currently, there may be shortcomings in privacy and confidentiality during medical examinations in health care settings. Staff may not adhere to the requirements specified in the circular and patients generally have little knowledge
14
regarding their rights to privacy. This situation at times has resulted in difficulties for both patients and medical personnel. Improving awareness of the staff and patients and regarding proper safeguards that need to be instituted at the time of examination and procedures will not only minimise such violations, but also will reduce the false allegations made against the staff thereby improving the credibility and the integrity of the health institution. Thus, the Expert Committee on Women’s Health of Sri Lanka Medical Association together with the Health Education Bureau of the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, Family Health Bureau, College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the College of General Practitioners initiated a poster to create awareness among female patients regarding their rights to have a female chaperone at the time of medical examination. The content of the poster was designed through a consultative
process of all the relevant stakeholders following which the poster was designed and pretested. The developed poster is now being disseminated to more than 900 public and private health care institutions in Sri Lanka in order to sensitize the public and health care staff in both Sinhalese (Fig 1) and Tamil (Fig 2). Being aware of safeguards to privacy and dignity of female patients in medical care settings at the time of examination, will be beneficial for both medical personnel and patients. Medical professionals will be prevented of being victims of false allegations being made against them and the patients will be empowered to demand for protections of their rights and privacy in medical care settings. Dr.Shamini Prathapan, Secretary, Expert Committee on Women’s Health Dr. Nalika Gunawardena, Chairperson, Expert Committee on Women’s Health
SLMANEWS
November, 2013
Dr. Bertram S Perera MBBS (Ceylon) FRCA (Eng)
I
t is with nostalgia that I record the passing away of Dr B S Perera who was a Consultant Anaesthetist of the General Hospital Colombo from 1954 to 1972. He graduated MBBS in 1945 and in 1947 he began his career in anaesthesia. He proceeded to England on a Government Scholarship and obtained the highest professional qualification in anaesthesia that was then available, the two part Diploma in Anaesthesia in 1954. On his return to Ceylon he was appointed Consultant Anaesthetist of the Colombo Group of Hospitals. He, along with six colleagues, comprised a group of pioneers in anaesthesia in our country. They included Dr Anthony Lucas who passed the first Diploma in Anaesthesia in 1934 and he was also considered the only qualified Anaesthetist East of Suez. The other Anaesthetists were Drs J L C (Laddie) Fernando, Claude Umagiliya, S Ponnabalam, Jimmy Richards and Charles Herath-Guneratne who comprised the seven qualified Anaesthetists in the country. They all had the DA (Lond) qualification. When the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons was formed they were awarded the Fellowship of the Faculty. They were all gifted clinicians and contributed as teachers in the Faculty of Medicine Colombo. Later, Drs Ponnambalam and B S Perera returned to the United Kingdom on a refresher course in Thoracic Anaesthsia and they became the pioneers in Thoracic Anaesthesia in Sri Lanka. Lung surgery commenced in the Welisara chest hospital and closed heart surgery at operation theatre ‘C’ of the General Hospital, now named the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. I joined Dr Perera in cardiac anaesthesia in Colombo as his House Officer in 1959 and that was the beginning of a close relationship. I always seeked his advice at different stages of my career and I recall with gratitude his travelling all the way from Australia to attend my induction as President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and returning to Australia the very next day. When he retired from the state sector in 1972, Dr Perera moved to Hong Kong where he worked at the United Christian Hospital for a short period before proceeding to Tasmania Australia where he worked as a consultant for many years. He returned to Sri Lanka in 1994 and from 1997 to 2000 worked on a seasonal basis at the Military Hospital Colombo. He donated all his remuneration to the National Defence Fund and the Kobbekaduwa Trust Fund.
16
He served as the President of the Association of Anaesthetits of Sri Lanka in 1972 and was the Vice President of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Sri Lanka in 1973. He made several donations to the Sri Lanka Medical Association and to the College of Anaesthesilogists of Sri Lanka. The College of Anaesthesiologists conducts a B S Perera Oration during the Inauguration of its Scientific Sessions every year. He was a life member of both these prestigious organisations. He was extremely popular and a much loved person. He will be long remembered as an entertaining singer and an elegant ball room dancer. His numerous hobbies include playing contract bridge, billiards and rearing Boxer dogs. He passed away at the National Hospital on 10th October 2013 a few days after celebrating his 96th birthday. He leaves his wife Noeline and four children and several grand children and our sympathies go out to them. May he rest in peace. Dr Thistle Jayawardene Consultant Anaesthetist
SLMANEWS
November, 2013
Department of health services southern provinceYet another achievement
T
he Sri Lanka National Quality Award is an internationally recognized annual Award organized and implemented by Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) to recognize Sri Lankan Organizations that excel in quality management and quality achievement. Sri Lanka National Quality award is following the very same standards of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which is the only formal recognition of the performance excellence of both public and private organizations of the United States of America. The applicant organizations are evaluated for seven criteria, namely Leadership, Strategic Planning, Customer Focus, Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management, Workforce Focus, Processes Management and Results. Award Categories include Manufacturing, Service, Education and Health Care. Each category is divided, depending on the number of full time employees, into Large, Medium and Small categories, altogether forming twelve eligibility categories. The Office of the Department of Health Services, Southern Province, has obtained a Merit Award in the Health Sector (Medium) category at the Quality Awards for year 2013 held at the Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall with Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka as the chief guest and Hon. Minister Rishard Badrudeen. This was the first time a Government Medical Administrative Office has achieved this honour in the
18
19 year history of the National Quality Awards. By the time Dr. Hemachandra Edirimanne assumed the duty as the provincial director of Health Services, Southern Province in 2010, Department has merely had glimpse of awareness to the concepts of Quality and Productivity. He initiated a quality culture among all the staff members. The results were evident soon afterwards by winning a merit award in the National Health Excellence Awards in 2010. The Department then rewarded with the first place in Taiki Akimoto Award 2011, which is the leading 5S competition of the country organized by JASTECA, and judged by a world renowned panel including Prof. Seiichi Fujitha. The next achievement was recieving a Grade A award in the 2012 National Productivity Award. The merit award in the national Quality awards ceremony is the latest addition to the collection. The department is now in the verge of achieving the ISO 9001/2008 certification in its journey to achieve the highest standards of health care delivery focusing on quality, productivity and patient safety. The Department, with the vision to be the best Provincial Health Department in Sri Lanka by contributing towards the advancement of health enriching Southern Province and giving its pride of place for a glorious and prosperous South, has organized the 3rd consecutive “Dakshina Suwa Viruwo�, the annual awards ceremony
to appreciate and reward the health care institutions on their performance on quality, productivity and patient safety, on the 23rd of December 2013. The panel of guests included the Hon. Mithripala Sirisena, Minister of Health, Governor of Southern Province, Hon. Kumari Balasooriya, The Chief Minister of the Southern Province, Hon. Shan Wijayalal De Silva and several other high profile guests. The Minister of Health will be presented a special award to appreciate the accomplishment of Global Excellence Award 2013 by the World Health Organisation. Another special award will be presented to the Chief Minister of Southern Province for his innovative and visionary leadership to uplift the health status of the Southern Province. The ceremony promote the quality of the health services, while providing a platform to stage the talents of the department employees in singing, dancing and martial arts as well. The best out of local Dengue Prevention committees, which play a major role in reducing the dengue burden will also be given recognition for their hard work.
Brand of paracetamol
Assuring our continous support for the medical profession
SLMANEWS
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE SRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
If undelivered return to: Sri Lanka Medical Association. No. 6, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 Registered at the Department of Post Under No: QD/27/NEWS 2014