By Sheain Fernandopulle in Daily Mirror, Sept 18, 2023
The Provincial Department of Health Services, Northern Province has implemented a ban on the use of social media for health workers including doctors during duty hours.
Speaking to Daily Mirror, Provincial Director of Health Services Northern Province, Dr T. Sathyamoorthy said, “The decision comes after numerous complaints were received, alleging that some health workers were using their mobile phones to browse social media platforms instead of attending to patients seeking treatment,”
However, Dr.Sathyamoorthy stated that the ban specifically applies to social media usage during duty hours and does not restrict the use of mobile phones for legitimate work-related purposes.
“Health workers are still permitted to use their mobile devices for communication, accessing medical resources, and other essential tasks,” he highlighted.
The official further clarified that the ban was not intended to infringe upon the personal lives of health workers, but rather to address the issue of negligence towards patients. It was emphasized that there are no restrictions on the use of mobile phones during non-duty hours, allowing health workers to engage with social media platforms and other personal activities at their leisure.https://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/Social-media-banned-for-Northern-Province-health-workers/155-267437
