The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, when we talk about Health today, some will say after this speech that Chamara Sampath too should beware of non-communicable diseases. Let me say this: in this country, NCDs cause the highest daily deaths. The Health Minister agrees. I am 58, with no hypertension, no cholesterol, no diabetes, and I take no medicine — let me put that on record.

¶ 02 But, Hon. Minister, the health sector is not in a good state. Due to the economic and other crises, the Ministry is now in your hands. Doctors and nurses are emigrating rapidly — two or three years ago 200–300 per year; now it is 1,500–2,000. You must accept this. We must increase cadres and recruit more doctors and nurses. Our so-called “free health service” since 1942 is no longer truly free: for bypass surgery or other procedures, patients get prescriptions and must buy items worth about Rs. 100,000; for cataract cleaning, blood leakage management, etc., patients still must purchase medicines outside.

¶ 03 As a doctor yourself, you know that unless we solve doctors’ issues we cannot advance health services. Some doctors need to travel around just to get signatures for 120 hours OT and allowances. Administrative burdens on doctors should be reduced.

¶ 04 On vehicle permits for doctors — I have consistently urged granting the Rs. 3 million permit. The tax relief granted through the permit is borne by the State; resolve this. There are drug shortages; perhaps around 80–90 items are short.

¶ 05 Housing for doctors is a problem. For example, Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena’s daughter, a doctor at Lunugala Hopton Hospital, has no official quarters. In Badulla District — Idalgashinna, Udaveriya, Ohiya — many hospitals lack accommodation. This discourages deployment to difficult hospitals; some accept postings and then leave. If we expect medical staff to go from cities to villages, we must provide facilities.

¶ 06 Mental health, cardiac disease, cancer, and kidney disease are rising. There are shortages of insulin and disinfectants. Please address these.

¶ 07 Ayurvedic medical officers’ salaries have issues. The allocation to Ayurveda and indigenous medicine is only 0.96% of the Budget — a shortfall for our indigenous system.

¶ 08 Under your Mass Media Ministry, there is talk of appointing a General Manager to the National Film Corporation without Cabinet approval; also an issue regarding the Sabaragamuwa Province Ayurveda Commissioner; and a reported plan to place a Tamil-language editor at Lake House on a Rs. 300,000 large salary. These need looking into. Solve the current deficiencies and work with medical trade unions to avoid conflict. Free health benefits everyone, especially the rural poor, for whom the hospital is the only refuge.

¶ 09 In our province’s difficult hospitals, there are shortages. At Badulla General Hospital, former Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva did much; it is improved. Diyatalawa and Bandarawela hospitals have been upgraded. At Weligama Primary Hospital in Uva Paranagama’s far end, there were big issues; the Provincial Director said the hospital is slipping, but it is not. We intervened; villagers began repairs voluntarily. Please look into this. NBRO has said a new building at the current site would be safe. From Weligama to Wewegama Hospital is about 80 km; this hospital serves remote villagers. Many hospitals are from the colonial era — like Madolseema, Mahadowa. There are doctor shortages.

¶ 10 On outside prescriptions — after a Sri Jayewardenepura doctor was remanded, issues arose about prescribing medicines to be bought outside. Please pay attention. Also, officials say there are issues with tending processes being stalled. I will not go further. I wish you strength and courage to improve our health services. Thank you.