Health Minister orders inquiry into Galaha Hospital incident

Minister of Health Dr Rajitha Senaratne has ordered the Director General of Health Services to carry out a proper inquiry into the death of a child admitted to the Galaha Hospital and the events that transpired as a result of that.

Issuing a statement regarding the incident, the Ministry of Health said that in addition to the inquiry the minister has also instructed to temporarily transfer the two doctors who were at the hospital at the time, for their own safety.

The statement said that the minister has instructed to immediately send two other doctors to the Galaha Hospital to take over their duties.

Speaking during the Cabinet press briefing in Colombo today (29), Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that although the hospital comes under the purview of the provincial council, discussions were held with relevant officials to expedite decisions.

He said that the doctors in question have stated that it had taken some time to treat the child after he was brought to hospital as they were treating two other patients who were in critical condition.

A tense situation was reported at the Galaha Hospital yesterday (28) following the death of an infant who had been admitted to the hospital.

A large number of people had gathered at the hospital premises, provoked by the death of a one-and-a-half year old infant, allegedly due to the delay in treating him by the doctors and staff at the hospital.

The angry mob had attacked and caused damages to the property at the hospital and the vehicles belonging to doctors. Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel and Riot Police were later deployed to control the situation.

The infant had reportedly been admitted to the hospital due to a sudden illness while they were participating in a religious event.