The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam

¶ 01 I am not making accusations; I am outlining the practical problems in our province’s service delivery, trusting as a fellow doctor you will understand and resolve them.

¶ 02 In the 2026 Health Plan, Rs. 1,500 million has been allocated to establish “Aarokkiya” centres serving populations of 5,000–10,000. I welcome this excellent initiative. However, before new centres, we must maximize the benefit from existing facilities in our province—you would agree.

¶ 03 As Provincial Health Minister in 2015, we enacted the first Provincial Health Statute. The North has 110 hospitals. Beyond new institutions, if we can optimize these 110, we can indeed achieve the primary healthcare improvements now envisaged.

¶ 04 If peripheral hospitals function effectively, we can decongest tertiary institutions—four district general hospitals offering specialized services—by reducing overcrowding and large inflows, thereby ensuring quality care closer to homes. For this, strengthen peripheral institutions with requisite staff and facilities.

¶ 05 I will submit detailed documents on staff and infrastructure gaps. For instance, excluding the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, provincial hospitals have an approved cadre of 157 Board-certified consultants; currently there are 29. Across these hospitals, 95 medical officer vacancies remain. I table these details.

¶ 06 During my tenure, with Dutch assistance (soft loans and grants amounting to about €60 million), we established key facilities: a cardiac and renal unit in Vavuniya and a rehabilitation hospital in Mankulam—the first such public rehabilitation hospital in Sri Lanka, I believe. In 2015–2017 we conducted a house-to-house survey and identified 75,000 people with disabilities in the Northern Province; numbers may have since increased. The Mankulam rehabilitation hospital is equipped with modern devices; it should be utilized not only for the North but the whole country. Please ensure it is fully operationalized.

¶ 07 Regarding Mannar: India has provided Rs. 600 million to establish an Accident and Emergency Unit. Your Government is taking this forward; thank you. Please commence implementation immediately. Mannar General Hospital lacks a CT scanner; although a building is ready, the machine is absent. Kindly provide a CT scanner in the 2026 allocation. There are further needs—paediatric ward, laboratory, etc.

¶ 08 Murikandy (Murunkan) Base Hospital is vital for Mannar’s large area; though upgraded, resources are lacking—please address. Mullaitivu Hospital lacks adequate wards; India has agreed to support a ward complex. Under your tenure, please prioritize and expedite this with Indian assistance.

¶ 09 In Vavuniya, many issues remain; time is short. The district has a very old lorry for medical logistics; kindly provide a new vehicle.

¶ 10 We established de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in all five districts of the Northern Province with central funding; these can be used under your anti-drug programme.

¶ 11 Mannar General Hospital lacks anesthetists; please fill these immediately.

¶ 12 Finally, on Siddha and Ayurveda: despite vacancies, appointments are not fully given; many graduates await postings for years. There is no significant shortage of Ayurveda drugs nationally, but Siddha drugs are in short supply. In Kilinochchi, 100 acres have been allocated for herbal gardens; invest there to boost Siddha drug production. I am tabling supporting documents. Thank you.