Divisions within Health Ministry affecting Covid control – expert

Divisions within the Health Ministry were preventing the optimal implementation of the strategy to control the pandemic, Professor Arjuna de Silva told The Island yesterday.

Prof. de Silva is the Head of the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine University of Kelaniya and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA).

Prof de Silva said one of the biggest problems was the lack of coordination among ministries.

“Some people have forgotten that this is a serious issue. For the policy makers to take good decisions, there should be reliable data. I think everyone now knows that there is a serious problem in data sharing at the ministry. Someone should create proper communication channels among departments and ensure proper data sharing to control Covid-19 effectively.

Prof de Silva said the public also acted irresponsibly. If the government relaxed travel restrictions, everyone would be on roads, he said.

“The government must give specific instructions to the people and implement them, otherwise our people won’t listen,” he said.