Friday, December 03, 2004
MLTs draw more blood
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
By Damitha Hemachandra
Medical laboratory technologists yesterday extended their strike to the Cancer Hospital, the Central Blood Bank and the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital after the Health Ministry sacked 57 MLTs.
MLT spokesman Ravi Kumudesh said the vacation of post notice issued by the Director General of Health Services was illegal and warned they would pull other para medical services out on strike if the order was not withdrawn.
He said 22 of the MLTs, who had received vacation of post notices were employed at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, which had been excluded from the strike while the other 35 were on sick leave. Mr. Kumudesh charged that some officials at the Health Ministry were benefiting from the strike and wanted it to continue because the bill from private hospitals for emergency tests conducted during the past week alone amounted to a staggering Rs. 13 million.
For the past few months the MLTs had refused to work overtime forcing government hospitals to seek the assistance of the private sector for emergency medical tests. It is learnt that nearly Rs. 100 million is due to private hospitals for emergency medical tests performed within the last three months.
The MLTs refused to do overtime after the government withdrew special payments made for emergency and essential services.
By Damitha Hemachandra
Medical laboratory technologists yesterday extended their strike to the Cancer Hospital, the Central Blood Bank and the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital after the Health Ministry sacked 57 MLTs.
MLT spokesman Ravi Kumudesh said the vacation of post notice issued by the Director General of Health Services was illegal and warned they would pull other para medical services out on strike if the order was not withdrawn.
He said 22 of the MLTs, who had received vacation of post notices were employed at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, which had been excluded from the strike while the other 35 were on sick leave. Mr. Kumudesh charged that some officials at the Health Ministry were benefiting from the strike and wanted it to continue because the bill from private hospitals for emergency tests conducted during the past week alone amounted to a staggering Rs. 13 million.
For the past few months the MLTs had refused to work overtime forcing government hospitals to seek the assistance of the private sector for emergency medical tests. It is learnt that nearly Rs. 100 million is due to private hospitals for emergency medical tests performed within the last three months.
The MLTs refused to do overtime after the government withdrew special payments made for emergency and essential services.
