DGHS issue: Paramedics on the fence

By Dilanthi Jayamanne

The Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine said it had not issued any statement on its position regarding the Director General Health Services, Dr. Ajith Mendis’ service extension.

Informed Union sources said yesterday that they had maintained silence as they had not reached a decision on their stance regarding the issue.

The source said however, that the Union’s former President Harendra Kuruppu had made a statement recently, which the JCPSM maintains was not its stand and had requested Kuruppu to refrain from using its name in making comments on the DG’s matter. "He could issue any individual statements but refrain from issuing it as a statement from the JCPSM."

Several unions have been at loggerheads over the issue during the last few months till Dr. Mendis was given a one month extension by the President and the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Convener of the Anti-Corruption Association Saman Ratnapriya accused the DGHS of taking revenge from trade union leaders who had called for disciplinary action against corrupt health officials.

Assistant Chief Secretary of the Government Midwifery Association Devika Kodituwakku, Medical Laboratory Technologists and members of the Health Service Trade Union Alliance had all been victimised over the issue, he said.

However, Ratnapriya urged the Health Minister to submit the report of the Presidential Investigations Unit to the Cabinet as soon as possible so that disciplinary action could be taken against the Health officials involved in the alleged fraud of Rs. 18.2 million.

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