Seminar on Dr. Bala’s vision for a patient friendly National Medicinal Drugs Policy on 10 May
Tuesday, 29 April 2014 00:00
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A top medical professional once had a vision for Sri Lanka to have a patient friendly National Medicinal Drugs Policy (NMDP), but if this vision has transformed into a reality is yet to be explored.
In an attempt to look at the progress achieved in this regard the People’s Movement for the Rights of Patients (PMRP) on 10 May will facilitate the Dr. K. Balasubramaniam Memorial Seminar on the title ‘Is Dr. Bala’s vision for a patient friendly National Medicinal Drugs Policy a reality?’.
The event is to be held following the PMRP Annual General Meeting which is to take place at the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), Colombo 10, at 9.30 am.
The seminar will feature as speakers Sri Lanka Medical Council President Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, and Attorney-at-Law/ Barrister Chrismal Warnasuriya.
The three speakers will address the topics, ‘Dr. Bala’s vision’, ‘Is the proposed Medicinal Act patient friendly’, and proposed Medicinal Act/legal aspect’. Following the speeches will be a panel discussion.
Dr. Balasubramaniam, who passed away at the age of 85 on 10 April 2011, was a towering figure at the health community. He was recognised to be the most knowledgeable, resolute, articulate, versatile, resilient and in many other ways, an exceptionally brilliant health activist the world has produced.
It was when working on his clinical research that Dr. Bala grew an interest in the social economic, political, and cultural dimensions of health delivery.
He was one of the founders of Health Action International (HAI), an important network of public health doctors, pharmacists, academic researchers, and health activists, organized to promote the rational use of medicines, and to ensure social justice in health care
In 2006, Dr. Bala received the Olle Hansson Award, which recognises the work of individuals from developing countries who have contributed the most to promoting the concepts of essential drugs and their rational use and Dr. Bala was cited for ‘his continued efforts in ensuring health for all’.
