Acting on a complaint regarding the shortage of doctors, the Human Rights Commission has initiated an inquiry into the situation at Chavakachcheri Hospital. Media reports revealed that on the night of the 17th July, there were no doctors or nurses available in the hospital’s outpatient department. As a result, patients seeking medical attention had to seek treatment elsewhere.
The Jaffna Regional Coordinator of the Human Rights Commission, Kanagaraj, has taken action by seeking an explanation from the hospital superintendent and other relevant authorities. The investigation arose when an individual lodged a complaint adding that there was no one at the hospital to attend to his father who was taken to the Emergency Room, which forced him to take his father to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital instead.
In response to this complaint and media reports, the Commission has requested an explanation from the Deputy Medical Superintendent of Chavakachcheri Base Hospital, the Regional Health Services Director in Jaffna, and the Provincial Health Services Director for the Northern Province. A letter has been sent to these officials, and the explanatory report is expected before the 22nd.
Additionally, a team led by Kanagaraj conducted an observation visit to Chavakachcheri Hospital on the 5th. Subsequently, a discussion was held with officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Health for the Northern Province and the Director of Northern Health Services. The outcomes of this discussion were forwarded to the Sri Lanka Human Rights Committee Headquarters. As the next step, a special discussion has been scheduled by the HRC at the Colombo head office of the Sri Lankan Human Rights Committee on the 30th at 1:30 pm.
The lack of doctors emanates from an issue where the sitting medical superintendent was transferred against his will and over arbitrary reasons. Residents in the area blocked traffic and protested against the transfer of Dr Archchuna Ramanathan.
Sri Lankan security forces, including the Special Task Force and the Police Anti-Riot Squad, were deployed when a tense situation ensued outside the hospital premises, as protesters demanded Dr Archchuna Ramanathan be retained at the hospital. He was reportedly lined up to be transferred out of the hospital, after speaking out against irregularities and corruption that he claimed had been taking place.
Reports in the Tamil press cite that Dr Ramanathan had found irregularities, including how doctors at the hospital were not working full-time and were allegedly neglecting patients in favor of running private practices. He had been vocal regarding these issues and had posted about these matters in the public domain.
