The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, first, I thank the Hon. Minister of Health who came to our area, opened our new building, and arranged for an ambulance for Pottuvil. On behalf of the people of Pottuvil, I am grateful.

¶ 03 The Pottuvil Base Hospital was upgraded to Type “B” in 2017–2018 and then to Type “A” in 2021, and in 2024 it was upgraded to a District General Hospital. However, it is still functioning with a Type “B” cadre of only 23. At least 48 doctors are needed to provide services, but to date there is no general physician and no general surgeon appointed, which is very concerning.

¶ 04 Despite the upgrade, specialist cadres have not been filled. Therefore, nurses, MLTs, radiographers, SKSs and other staff must be appointed in sufficient numbers, and services in an integrated Western and Ayurvedic medical model should be coordinated so that people of all three communities living in Pottuvil, Panama, Lahugala, Hulannuge, and Komari benefit. Former Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Mahipala’s recommendations for filling cadres have been sent to the Department of Management Services, but to date they have not been implemented.

¶ 05 Specialist quarters are needed, but no funds have been allocated; similarly, nurses’ accommodation is required. X-ray facilities are available only from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Outside these hours, patients must be transferred about 45 km to Akkaraipattu Hospital for X-rays. By filling the staff shortages, unnecessary ambulance fuel wastage can be minimized. Pottuvil Base Hospital is the only hospital in Ampara District that can generate revenue annually for the Treasury — currently around Rs. 1–2 million — and by expanding paying wards, revenue can be further increased.

¶ 06 A new ‘cab’ vehicle should be provided to the Pottuvil MOH office under the Kalmunai Regional Health Services. The family health officer cadre is 13 as per 2017, but with a population over 48,000, only 10 officers struggle to provide services; at least 16 are needed. These should be provided through the Ministry.

¶ 07 In Nintavur, seven acres were purchased with public contributions to establish a pediatric and maternity hospital for the Eastern Province. In 2017 under the good governance government, Rs. 900 million was allocated and a seven-storey building foundation was laid so that people of the East, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or language, need not travel to Colombo for treatment. I request the Hon. Minister of Health to complete it.

¶ 08 At Sammanturai Base Hospital, a large hospital building was constructed with Chinese Government assistance, but due to lack of equipment it remains unused. Please provide the required equipment so people receive better healthcare.

¶ 09 Further, Muslim female nurses serving in government hospitals, MOH offices, and the National Nurses Training School should be allowed to wear their cultural/religious attire while on duty within professional norms.

¶ 10 At Pottuvil Central Dispensary, one more doctor and a development officer should be appointed; the doctor’s quarters should be renovated. As this hospital is located in Arugam Bay, a renowned tourism area, it should be made ready to function 24/7 with a functioning Emergency Treatment Unit, and elephant fences should be installed for hospital security.

¶ 11 At Komari Primary Medical Care Unit, one more doctor should be appointed; the maternity ward should be renovated and services restarted, and an ambulance provided. The dental unit at Pottuvil should be ensured continuous operation.

¶ 12 At Irakkamam Hospital, we have repeatedly requested the start of a maternity unit; it should be commenced soon and the hospital upgraded over time to provide better services.

¶ 13 A CT scanner should be provided to Akkaraipattu Base Hospital to benefit hundreds of thousands in surrounding areas.

¶ 14 Kalmunai AMH is functioning well; provide necessary equipment to expand services. Of the four dialysis machines, only one is working; repair and restore the rest urgently. I thank former Minister Harees, his brother Ameer Ali, and Rahmath Mansoor for their efforts. I also thank Dr. Kariapper of Sainthamaruthu Hospital, recognized today as an outstanding physician in Ampara District.

¶ 15 At Ampara Teaching Hospital, birth and death records are issued only in Sinhala, causing serious hardships to Tamil and Muslim people. Please appoint a Tamil-language Births and Deaths Registrar promptly. Also, establish district-level rehabilitation camps to bring persons addicted to alcohol back into society.

¶ 16 Under Kalmunai RDHS, new health labourers are given only 40 hours of overtime while older health labourers receive 90 hours. This creates hardship. Those honestly and efficiently performing duties should receive the legally entitled 90 hours.

¶ 17 Coroners who conduct sudden death inquiries receive only Rs. 1,000 per case; this is insufficient and must be increased.

¶ 18 Please implement the President’s pledge to ensure a 3% employment quota in the public service for persons with disabilities and special needs during this year.

¶ 19 Only 0.96% of allocations under the Ministry have been set aside for Ayurveda. I understand there is even a protest today about this. Please increase this allocation and also increase the very low 20 hours of overtime for Ayurvedic doctors.

¶ 20 Provide motorcycles to Public Health Midwives, Family Health Workers, Public Health Inspectors, Development Officers, and Grama Niladharis to perform their duties efficiently.

¶ 21 At Attalaichenai Hospital, lift facilities and the upper floors of the new building are incomplete; there are no rest rooms, no pharmacists, no vehicle park, and a new ECG machine is requested even via social media. Please resolve these and address cadre and basic facility shortages at Pottuvil and Lahugala Hospitals to ensure better services.

¶ 22 At the Nintavur Ayurvedic Infectious Disease Research Hospital, buildings have not been constructed. In this Budget, please provide the only such research hospital in the Eastern Province with a building and basic facilities to deliver quality services.