Hospitals must not refuse to admit patients - official

COLOMBO (News1st): Hospitals must not refuse the admission of any patients under any circumstances, Dr Hemantha Herath, the acting deputy director-general of public health services has said. "I wish to emphasize that if hospitals refuse to admit patients, the public should file a complaint about it. The health ministry will then take stringent action against them," Dr Herath noted. He also urged the public to abide by all health guidelines at economic centres. "We permitted economic centres to remain open not for any form of entertainment, but to fulfil essential needs," the deputy director-general noted. He added that this, however, does not rule out of the possibility of the emergence of another cluster. "If the activities at an economic centre are not taking place in line with the guidelines, health officials have been vested with powers to immediately shut down those establishments," the official warned.