Sri Lanka Medical Association
DECLARATION ON HEALTH
Revised in 2005
The health of our citizens has improved to a commendable
degree over the past few decades, but much remains to be done. Promotion of
better understanding between doctors and patients, and promotion of closer
co-operation among all categories of health professionals as well as between
the State, society in general and its individual members, are factors that will
ensure continued improvement in the health of the people.
As greater understanding of health related
issues by the public would help to improve the standard of health
The SRI LANKA
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (SLMA) DECLARES THAT
People have the
right
1. to
life that they can enjoy in good health and with dignity;
2. to
live in an environment free of pollution;
3. when
ill, to be treated always with care and compassion, by the attending health
professionals in particular and by the members of society in general; and
4. to
expect that fees that are charged from patients and other users for services
rendered are reasonable.
THE SRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION acknowledges
the limitations placed on development of the health sector by constraints due
to the lack of finance, human resources and infrastructure, as well as the
problems posed by the absence of a formal relationship between the private and
public health care services.
As these constraints are remediable,
THE SRI LANKA
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DECLARES THAT
People are
entitled to
5. receive
relevant information on matters concerning health and health services, such
as:
5.1 facilities available for
the promotion of health, prevention of diseases and their treatment, both in
the public and private sectors, at regional and central levels;
5.2 the individuals
considered qualified by the State to promote health, to prevent disease and to
treat the sick;
5.3 the individuals,
institutions and business establishments considered competent by the State for
the manufacture, sale and dispensing of medicinal drugs;
5.4 the functions of
qualified medical, paramedical and other health workers in the public and
private sectors;
5.5 the assistance that could
be rendered to the sick by lay persons;
5.6 the duties and
responsibilities of all persons in the promotion of health and the prevention
of disease in the community;
5.7 one’s illness, its
principal complications, available methods of investigation and treatment, and
their advantages, disadvantages and costs;
5.8 medication
that is prescribed, (name, cost and significant side effects etc.) in a manner
that is compatible with established ethical criteria and the capacity of the
person to understand;
5.9 research projects
concerning individuals or communities:
5.10 the constituents of
cosmetics and foods;
5.11 accurate information in media
advertisements of over-the-counter healthcare products;
6. be
referred to an appropriate professional or institution when referral is
indicated;
7. be
afforded confidentiality and privacy during consultation, examination,
investigation and treatment;
8. be
competently and adequately assessed by their medical professionals;
9. request
and to receive a second opinion, when appropriate;
10. receive,
wherever possible, their preferred mode of treatment from among those proven to
be effective;
11. keep in their custody
reports of investigations pertaining to their illness, or where this is not
feasible, a summary of pertinent investigations, together with the diagnosis
and treatment; and
12. participate in
influencing health related policy.
Furthermore, as all citizens have
responsibilities towards each other and to the State,
THE SRI LANKA
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DECLARES THAT
People should
13. strive
to do everything in their power to keep the environment free of pollution;
14. support
all efforts to maintain the balance of nature and its biodiversity;
15. refrain
from using, or promoting the use of, toxic substances in the preparation of
food and cosmetics;
16. refrain
from smoking or chewing tobacco and from abusing drugs and alcohol, and should
encourage others to do likewise;
17. co-operate fully with
those involved in the promotion of health, the prevention of disease and in
treating the sick;
18. render
assistance to the sick whenever possible; and
19. be
willing to participate in approved projects researching health promotion and
the prevention and cure of disease.
In pursuance of objectives embodied in the DECLARATION
in Articles I to 19,
THE SRI LANKA
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CALLS ON:
A. all
health professionals, professional organisations and institutions involved in
medical undergraduate and postgraduate training to improve professional and
ethical standards and thereby give effect to the provisions of this
DECLARATION;
B. the Government to provide the finance, human resources and infrastructure required for
effecting such improvement, and to take appropriate action as called for in
this DECLARATION;
C. the
pharmaceutical industry to abide by the ethical standards as laid down in
Ethical Criteria for the Promotion of Medicinal Drugs and Devices in Sri Lanka
(SLMA, 1996);
D. professional bodies and non-governmental organisations
to take appropriate action, within their spheres of influence, and to
disseminate the information contained in the DECLARATION for the benefit of the
people; and
E. the
media to remain vigilant and protect the health of the people by rejecting
unethical advertising and to utilise the advice of competent health
professional and consumer groups in reporting health related issues.