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Bibile:deeds not words Mr. Minister
Wednesday, 27 September 2006 - 9:45 AM SL Time
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In an unprecedented wave of interest for the Senaka Bibile policy on rational drug use or the essential medicines concept, at least five major ceremonies are to be held this Friday to mark the 29th death anniversary of this revered prophet whose policies are being successfully implemented in 150 countries but tragically not in his own country.
Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva will be present at least at two of these ceremonies, the important one being in the morning at the Colombo Medical Faculty auditorium to mark the issue of a Senaka Bibile postage stamp. But Professor Bibile being a man of deeds and not words, slogans or rhetoric would speak loudly to the Health Minister and other politicians or top officials attending Friday`s ceremonies. He would say to them, ?If you wish to honour me, if you are sincere about your tributes, go beyond your words and implement my policies to provide relief to millions `
The Peoples` Movement for the Rights of Patients (PMRP), one of the civic action groups playing a key role in trying to get the Health Ministry to implement the Senaka Bibile rational drug use policy has complained that Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and top Ministry officials are painfully slow, if not something worse ,in implementing the much needed and urgent National Medicinal Drugs Policy (NMDP) based on the Senaka Bibile principles. Whatever the transnational drug company propagandists, business oriented medical consultants or other vested interests may say, there is no doubt that when the NMDP is implemented every Sri Lankan would have access to quality drugs at affordable prices while the country could save billions in foreign exchange by stopping the import of non-essential and highly expensive drugs under various brand names.
The PMRP and other health action groups are urging the Health Minister to take a clear decision and make an announcement at the Bibile commemoration ceremony on Friday. A National Standing Committee appointed in May and other experts including two from the World Health Organisation are finalizing legislation for the implementation of the NMDP. The health action groups are hoping Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva would give a firm assurance on Friday that the legislation will be presented to the Cabinet and parliament for approval next month and the implementation would start from there. If he does not the PMRP and other Health Action groups say they intend taking the issue directly to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who in the Mahinda Chintanaya election manifesto specifically pledged that the Senaka Bibile policy on rational drug use would be implemented.
As we commemorate one of the greatest Sri Lankans ,whose policy has been hailed by the WHO and is giving good health to hundreds of millions of people all over the world, we could also recall some of his rare qualities, because many young people today have not even heard of him, being more interested in Hollywood, Bollywood and assorted western junk. When Senaka Bibile the child of the Bibile Rate Mahathaya was born, his mother received help and assistance from the village women who flocked to the walavva, taking turns to wait on and look after the baby. This selfless affection shown to him by the poor peasants of his village instilled a profound sense of closeness and devotion to the poor. This ,in his later life ,shaped his professional and political ideology.
The little Senaka, by the time he was eight, had already witnessed and understood the plight of the Vellassa peasants. He had also heard, on numerous occasions, vivid stories about the plunder and destruction caused by the British colonizers not so long ago. These experiences were to make a lasting impression in his young mind, which later led to his life-long ambition of serving the poor of his motherland. Some 40 years later after illustrious careers at Trinity College in Kandy and the Colombo Medical Faculty in Colombo, Senaka Bibile embarked on a crusade to release the masses from the clutches of the multinational drug companies.
As the first Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, he refused to accept a salary and in a stunning turn of events also became the leader of the SPC trade union. Senaka Bibile continued to work as a Professor of Pharmacology at the Peradeniya Medical Faculty and would shuttle to Kandy and back not in a luxury car but in the third class compartments of a train, very much like a Lankan Gandhi. If lessons or role models are needed for today`s politicians and top officials, they could reflect on Senaka Bibile`s life story.
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ananda95
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1686
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27 Sep 2006 15:12:14 GMT Report for Abuse
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| You will be remembered!! The courage you had to fight against the multinational crooks should be cultivated on everyone. |
EMF82
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1
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28 Sep 2006 07:40:29 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Ananda95... I am assuming that this is Ananda Bibile... Very nice to see you on this... |
Bonggo
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5164
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28 Sep 2006 09:19:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Bibile fought for the patients sufering all over the world. A true humanist who paid the supreme sacrifice. |
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