Medical Politics

Medical Politics

A brief outline of our politics.

We were under Compulsory Service of 6 years, which was strictly implemented, except for a few.

I hated this policy.

There was no in Service Training for medical fraternity.

It was Trial and Error but politics was Bread and Butter.

 

Within six months of my first assignment I decided to quit Government Service.

 

With some luck, I managed to get seconded to the University as  Temporary Hand and not as Permanent Cadre.

 

After 5 years, I managed to get a post (there were lot of obstacles laid by the health secretary) in Colombo General Hospital. 

We had very good Permanent Secretary by the name of ? Mr. M.D. Silva. 

He was the best at that time was placed there to remedy lot of problems in the Ministry.

He was strict and no favours to any.

 

Our problem was with the Minister, who was horrible Rajapaksa guy.

DOT (Dead on Table) in a London Hospital, at the expense of the Public Money.

 

I was very insignificant guy then working in the laboratory.

 

I was actually a glorious Venepunturist. 

 

Bleed about 50 in the morning and about 30 in the afternoon and then set up ESR columns for inspection. 

I was fully trained by Dr. (Mrs). Premasiri who was the wife of  a Professor (?of history) Peradeniya University.

 

I look at the ESR Tubes and made blood films (for blood picture) of suspected cases.

 

It is for self study, since I had plenty of free time and no night duty.

Detecting Malaria (was the first priority) and various types Leukemia was my job.

 

One day, I discovered a rare case o Red Cell Leukemia.  

 

I confirmed it with another sample and presented it to Dr. (Mrs) Doris Peiris.

What?

I have been in service for 40 years and I haven't seen one.

She confirmed it (I had already done special staining to confirm it).

She said you a lucky guy and we had a working relationship and she leaves me interesting blood film to peruse. 

 

During this period we worked hard to get a new spacious building for the laboratory and the Health Minister came for the opening ceremony. 

Sirima was invited but she did not come.

 

That is the academic part.

 

Coming to politics, we were very unhappy with Dr. N.M.Perera, Peter Keanaman and Colvin R. De Silva, besides Felix Dias Bandaranayake.

 

Our plot was to oust them, come next General Election.

We had a very strong G.M.O.A. 

I was not in the G.M.O.A. but we made temporary committees in all major cities.

 

I was the coordinator.

Plan was to irritate the Government on Medical issues within the framework allowed by the Establishment Code. 

 

1. Reporting Sick en-block on a selected city was one of the original ideas.

I give a call to Jaffna and set a plan.

I give a call to Kandy and set up plan.

I do that past 9PM and the Telephone Operators were very helpful all over the Island.

 

2. Work to Rule as per Establishment Code.

3. Look after patients well and no patient should die during our campaign.

To our horror more patients died on normal working days. 

We made a note of guys who were not working and remain in Colombo and going to collect only the salary.

 

In other words self evaluation of our own misdeeds.

Rest of the institutions followed suit.

 

4. JRJ capitalized on our program.

The mighty government fell.

I voted for JRJ which was the crime of my life. 

Giving him 6/7 majority. 

 

We destroyed Democracy, in this country for good.

5. I went to UK and did not vote for 40 years, since.

6. We met JRJ and got the  Compulsory Service cancelled.

 

On letter a request by me, he sent a corrupt Judge in Kandy  (after proper investigation) on compulsory service, long before Victor Ivan.

7. I was in the University Planning Committee (Vision not Mission) to oust Rajapkasa Regime.