The Sri Lanka Medical Association and Inter Collegiate Committee representing all medical professional colleges and associations has put forward seven broad recommendations for the Health Ministry to implement as part of national efforts to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Following is the statement issued by SLMA President Professor Indika Karunathilake and Convenor Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama:
The Sri Lanka Medical Association and Inter Collegiate Committee representing all medical professional colleges and associations wish to appreciate the efforts already undertaken by the Government and the Ministries, especially the Ministries of Health and Defence, in all the efforts undertaken to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.
In this context, we would like to bring the following observations and recommendations regarding the current serious situation for deliberation.
1.General considerations
- Strengthen the Epidemiology Unit by providing more human resources, expertise and funding.
- Epidemiological predicting, forecasting and mapping to plan preventive and management strategies.
- Revise the patient admission and discharge criteria considering limited resources available
- Optimal and rational use of Information Technology for contact tracing and surveillance.
2. Management of patients
- All PCR positive cases have to be institutionalised, but not necessarily at hospitals. Large halls or dormitories with good ventilation can be converted as isolation centres. This will reduce the burden on the healthcare system and the hospitals.
- National level hospitals should be reserved for maintaining tertiary care
3. Restriction of mobility
- In all the affected areas, mobility needs to be restricted while maintaining essential economic and service activities. All regulations in recent gazette must be strictly applied.
- It may be necessary to completely isolate affected economic centres such as FTZs and ports of entry while maintaining economic process, supply chains and essential services.
4. Ensuring coordination
- Cooperation between directorates, advisory bodies, expert groups within the Ministry, with security forces, task force, and professional bodies
5. Quarantine process
- Health sector must have the key decision-making power regarding the quarantine process.
- Health professionals should base the decisions on a risk assessment process.
6. Enduring trust and confidence of the general public
- There is a need to strictly enforce guidelines for media reporting on COVID-19.
- Stigmatisation and criminalisation must be avoided
- Maintain supply chains and provision of essential services.
7. Testing policy
- Testing policy should be based on scientific rationale and national capacity.
- Purpose of testing in each context such as diagnostic or screening or to identify infectivity should be clearly identified.
The Sri Lanka Medical Association has already informed the Ministry of Health of these suggestions, and is obliged to see certain recommendations in action.
