COVID-19 patients: Chance for private hospital treatment discussed

COLOMBO: Possibilities for accommodating COVID-19 patients for treatment at at private sector hospitals, if they so desire, was explored at a meeting attended by Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.

A high-level delegation of medical experts, comprising Consultants and Medical Specialists had a cordial discussion with Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Head, National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army at the Army Headquarters.

The delegation included the Consultant Surgeon Dr Maiya Gunasekera, Consultant Physician (Prof) Arjuna De Silva, Gynaecologist (Prof) Hemantha Dodampahala, Endocrinologist (Prof) Prasad Katulanda and the Consultant Physician, Dr Eranga Narangoda.

Those medical specialists maintained that such opportunities should remain open for the virus-infected patients wishing to receive treatment at private sector hospitals since this could also help ease prevailing congestion at state sector ones and create more space largely for less income groups.

Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva assured them that their concerns would be taken up shortly at the NOCPCO Task Force, Director General of Health Services and other authorities before a decision is made on this issue.

The medical delegation also received an update from the Head, NOCPCO on the status quo on the control work of COVID-19 transmission.