PARLIAMENT

• The Charter becomes the first charter to ensure patient safety and well-being in the South Asian region - Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health

The presentation of the final draft of the Charter to ensure the safety and well-being of patients took place in Parliament recently (June 06) under the Chairmanship of Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, the Speaker.

Hon. (Dr.) Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Industries and Minister of Health, Hon. (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Seetha Arambepola, State Minister for Health, Hon. Mayantha Dissanayake, Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Hon. (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Subcommittee appointed by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Member of Parliament Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary     General of Parliament, Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, Former Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, former president of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and chairman of the Sarvodaya movement, Dr. Alaka Singh, representative of the World Health Organization were present at this occasion.

This final draft has been prepared by the sub-committee of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health and its panel of experts on the advice and guidance of the World Health Organization. Accordingly, this Charter is considered to be the first Charter prepared to ensure the safety and well-being of patients in the South Asian region.

The final draft of the Charter to ensure the safety and well-being of these patients was presented to the Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health Hon. Mayantha Dissanayake by Hon. (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi Member of Parliament and Chair of the Subcommittee appointed by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health.

Members of Parliament, officials of the Ministry of Health, academics affiliated to the the sub-committee, representatives of health regulatory institutions, representatives of health professional associations, representatives of groups representing patients and officials of the World Health Organization also participated in this occasion.