A Pohottuwa member of the Kundasale pradeshiya sabah has allegedly attacked the District Medical Officer of the Menikhinna Hospital Iranga Madushan. As a result six out of eight doctors have stepped away from their duties in protest.
According to sources, the member had attacked the medical officer after repeated requests to cancel the transfer of the hospital’s head nurse had been declined by him. The attack had taken place in the medical officer’s office on Thursday (17). A complaint has been filed with the Kandy Police, Miscellaneous complaints branch. The doctor had received treatment till today (19) following the attack.
However the GMOA said that despite complaining the Police have not taken any action against the politico and have opposed what they see as political interference in the administration of the hospital. Members of the GMOA are expected to meet today to discuss further action regarding the recent attack.
The accused, Samantha Herath, a pradeshiya sabha member however has denied he interfered in the hospital administration and had only notified the Governor Lalith U. Gamage of the request made by the head nurse to have her transfer cancelled. He claims he never met the District Medical Officer thereafter. However he admitted he had a heated exchange with the doctor at the Central province health office and said CCTV would attest to this.
Herath in turn claims he will lodge a complaint against the doctor for defaming him. The governor has requested the district health secretary to inform the hospital staff to return to work in order to not inconvenience the public and instead submit their grievances to a committee formed by him on September 21.
