Hon. Amila Prasad

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I move the following Adjournment Motion:

¶ 02 “Free healthcare is both a public benefit and an essential service. Though internationally commended, Sri Lanka’s free health service presently faces unsatisfactory conditions. Therefore, this House should draw attention to: 1. The shortage of doctors and nurses in hospitals and measures to re-engage those who left service or emigrated. 2. Providing an effective solution to medicine shortages in hospitals. 3. Establishing a structured mechanism for pharmacies operating without adequate qualified pharmacists. 4. Examining why the current Government’s policy to establish Primary Medical Care Centres has not achieved expected outcomes. 5. Filling hospital staff vacancies on merit by giving equal opportunity to all applicants, instead of favouring selected groups.

¶ 03 Accordingly, necessary steps should be taken to ensure an efficient, high-quality health sector.”

¶ 04 Across many regions we see severe staff shortages. For example, Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital lacks 37 doctors; nine hospitals in that district face shortages. Government must probe why doctors leave—often as new wards/units open, existing doctors are reassigned, leaving gaps unfilled. Has a proper, up-to-date assessment been done of required versus actual cadres of doctors and nurses over the past two years?

¶ 05 Facilities for doctors and nurses are inadequate, causing emigration. Vehicle permits for doctors were withdrawn—fine, but then provide practical transport or fuel allowances. Without such measures, expatriate professionals will not return. We spend heavily to train them; we need a plan at Ministry level to bring them back.

¶ 06 If current numbers are insufficient, increase intakes to medical faculties and nursing schools after A/Ls, along with necessary facilities. I also ask about the recent issue at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital where equipment had to be sourced externally for a specialized operation—what is the status and action taken? There are widespread shortages of specialized equipment. Government says there is no shortage—but if so, is that only the quantum the Government can currently provide, leaving patients to purchase the rest privately?

¶ 07 Private sector suppliers also face foreign exchange constraints; some firms have stopped supplying due to losses and seek justified price revisions, which lack approval. Moreover, out of 4,800 pharmacies in the country, only about 2,700 are licensed; around 2,000 are awaiting approval but there are not enough qualified pharmacists. What interim measures will the Government take to keep the pharmacy network functioning safely?

¶ 08 On recruiting support staff: advertisements were issued, but I hear not all applicants were called for interviews; only a chosen group. Is this intentional, or done by officials without ministerial knowledge, or due to outside interference? Please clarify and correct.

¶ 09 “Suwaseriya” pre-hospital ambulance service turns 10 next month. For the first time, its staff have protested about working conditions. Please address their demands: 2026 salary increment not paid; inadequate annual insurance under the “Agrahara”-like scheme; lack of uniforms/IDs; halt to unfair disciplinary actions; restoration of civil administration; proper transfer procedures; maintaining systems; supply of non-expired medical consumables; parking and sanitation facilities.

¶ 10 Free healthcare was built over 76 years with people’s taxes; this Government must keep it efficient. I urge action.

¶ 11 Thank you.