Sri Lanka reforms state hiring while Singapore hospital targets sepsis

In Sri Lanka, Minister of Foreign Employment and Tourism Vajira Hasara announced that the recruitment of 100 new employees to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment marks an end to undue influence in state sector hiring. The Minister stated that appointments are now based on merit and formal applications from all districts, replacing previous systems that favored specific regions. He emphasized a new institutional culture and noted that internal staff were also given opportunities for merit-based promotions. To prevent future corruption and financial fraud, a specialized police unit has been established to maintain transparency.

In Singapore, medical professionals at Tan Tock Seng Hospital have developed the ‘Safe from Sepsis’ program to improve the early detection and management of sepsis. Sepsis, a severe reaction to infection, accounts for over 20 percent of global deaths. The new nurse-led initiative aims to ensure that at least 80 percent of patients receive antibiotic treatment within the critical 180-minute window. Previously, only 37 percent of patients received antibiotics within this timeframe, compared to an average administration time of 220 minutes.