The recent verbal rant by the Deputy Director of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) and his characterisation of the ‘minor staff’ of the institution, highlight a deeply rooted trait of the broader public service in Sri Lanka.

Issues between the deputy director and a segment of the NHSL’s staff go back some time, with allegations traded and protests held. However, it is evident that the deputy director crossed a few ethical boundaries when he branded the supplementary health workers such as attendants who had begun trade union action seeking an increase in their allowances and benefits, to mirror that of what doctors got, as drug peddlers.

The demeaning manner in which he referred to the ‘minor staff’ raises significant questions about his human resources management capacity. However, there has been no condemnation nor outrage about his despicable outburst from the often vocal medical community in Sri Lanka. Why are doctors and specialists silent about this type of speech? Could it be that they silently support such unethical behaviour, or is the deputy director’s outburst mirroring how a broader segment of the medical community view ‘minor staff’? Where do the mental health specialists stand on this matter? The silence is deafening. Imagine if a Health Ministry official or a politician made derogatory remarks about doctors and surgeons? There would have been a tsunami of complaints, followed by trade union action by doctors. Let’s not forget that doctors have also historically been quick to take up trade union action when they had a grievance.   

While the breach of ethics in the deputy director’s speech is one side of the issue, the fact that as a medical professional who was commenting on demands of a segment of his colleagues, his lack of humility and empathy for the low-paid staff in the current economic situation in the island, is shocking. It seems that the deputy director has an entrenched view of the lower tiers of the health service and believes their grievances count for nothing. The deputy director’s criticism about part of the NHSL staff engaging in trade union action, which he considered irrational, could have been better delivered. His counter arguments, if they were meant to be constructive, could have been better worded. By branding an entire group of the NHSL staff the way he did, on camera to broadcast stations, hasn’t the deputy director disgraced the entire medical community he represents?

The deputy director alleged that some of the ‘minor staff’ who agitated against him, and moved to surround his office following his remarks were those infuriated due to law enforcement action which he initiated by establishing a new police post at the NHSL, aimed at countering narcotics trade. The NHSL has had a long-standing police post. However, senior police sources The Daily Morning spoke to said that a new post, mainly staffed by traffic Police officers, was established following the observation that errant parking and slow moving traffic near roads on the entry points to the NHSL were disrupting quick access for ambulances and medical staff.

There have been systemic issues with some of the staff of the NHSL over the last few decades, with some signing in and absconding from work to hire three-wheelers, essentially earning two incomes. And yes, there have been some, a few ‘minor staff’ who have been using and selling narcotics. These systemic issues should be addressed diligently, and not by grandstanding. Further, such low-level criminal activity is not unique to the NHSL, and is a national issue, which ought to be addressed by policy changes, and long-term programme, and not by blacklisting and entire part of the medical community, no matter how ‘irrelevant’ or ‘minor’ they are considered to be by some in seats of power.         

The Sri Lankan public sector, including the much celebrated public health system, is still structured on remnants from the colonial period. In foreign countries, hospital supplementary staff, be it those performing sanitation duties, or caregivers, are well-recognised and well-paid. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka has not evolved, or developed to that level. One can only wonder, with attitudes and arrogance, which the deputy director of the NHSL has displayed, and the silence from the broader medical community about the outburst, how long will Sri Lanka take to get to where countries like the UK, Australia, and Canada have reached in professionalisation of the health sector.