Ministry bans referring of medical tests to pvt. labs
August 23, 2011 02:31 pm
The Ministry of Health has banned medical laboratory tests being referred to private labs, when necessary facilities are available in government hospitals.
The Health Minister has received several complaints of people being referred to private laboratories for medical tests such as blood, stool.
Minister Maithripala Sirisena has instructed authorities to prohibit, with immediate effect, referring the public to private laboratories, as the government has provided laboratory facilities to all major hospitals including the Colombo General Hospital, a Ministry release stated.
A circular in this regard is to be issued to all hospital next week.
The Health Minister has further instructed relevant authorities to submit to him a report on any shortages at hospitals laboratories.
The Minister had reportedly issued these instructions after engaging in a inspection tour of all laboratories at the Colombo General Hospital today (August 23).
The Health Minister has received several complaints of people being referred to private laboratories for medical tests such as blood, stool.
Minister Maithripala Sirisena has instructed authorities to prohibit, with immediate effect, referring the public to private laboratories, as the government has provided laboratory facilities to all major hospitals including the Colombo General Hospital, a Ministry release stated.
A circular in this regard is to be issued to all hospital next week.
The Health Minister has further instructed relevant authorities to submit to him a report on any shortages at hospitals laboratories.
The Minister had reportedly issued these instructions after engaging in a inspection tour of all laboratories at the Colombo General Hospital today (August 23).
