SLA imposes rigid pass system on civilian access to Jaffna hospital

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 December 2008, 20:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) directed the Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) administration Monday to introduce a 'pass' system under which even patients in need of treatment will have to prove their ailment to the police and army personnel manning the check post in front of the hospital. This system is being imposed to to ensure the safety of the Sinhalese medical officers of JTH by restricting the number of patients and visitors seeking entry to the hospital, hospital authorities said.

The Hospital is already guarded by police and SLA soldiers to protect the said Sinhalese medical officers.

According to the newly imposed restriction only two visitors will be allowed in daily to see a patient warded in JTH. Vistors are body-checked, and their belongings thoroughly checked at the SLA check post at the entrance.

Even outpatients seeking medical treatment for their illness have first prove their illness to the police and SLA personnel at the entrance check post.

This system which was earlier in force was removed during the peace period.

Pass system is being imposed so as to limit the number of persons coming to the hospital according to instructions to the administration from SLA authorities, hospital sources said.

JTH, the major hospital in Jaffna peninsula, provides free treatment and other medical facilites to all people in the peninsula and the restriction is another burden on the people who are already subjected to other restrictions, checking and search by the police and SLA soldiers, civil society sources said.