Hon. (Dr.) Rizvie Salih - Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, thank you for the time to speak at the Committee Stage Discussion of the 2025 Budget.

¶ 02 We deal with Heads that touch every life from first breath to last. The Discussion has been healthy and cordial—from Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Jayawardhana to the Minister and the Hon. Leader of the Opposition.

¶ 03 The maiden Budget allocates Rs. 604 billion to Health and Mass Media: Rs. 496.3 billion recurrent and Rs. 107.3 billion capital.

¶ 04 In Colombo Central, which I represent, urban middle and lower-middle classes suffer compromised health due to economic strain. Both parents often work as informal daily wage earners. They resort to nearby dispensaries and pharmacies due to language barriers in State institutions and long OPD delays—requiring parents to forgo wages and leave other children at home. The Government’s digitalization can cut OPD time and streamline services. As a private practitioner, I saw a surge in patients seeking private care, even when unaffordable, especially after tragedies involving substandard or contaminated medicines and injections procured due to greed. That was a crime and a sin against humanity. The poorest suffered most. Let us ensure such incidents never recur.

¶ 05 Poor environmental conditions—open drains, poor sanitation—drive communicable diseases. The “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative should address these.

¶ 06 Brain drain afflicts consultants, MOs, nurses, and paramedical staff—perfusionists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, audiologists. Causes include salaries, economic downturn, law and order, and children’s education. With the nation’s reawakening, I hope this reverses. Those who left physically left their hearts here.

¶ 07 Substance abuse, including among women, is rising. I have even had pregnant mothers ask whether taking “ice” was okay—referring to crystal methamphetamine. We must address this through law enforcement, education, counselling, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

¶ 08 The Government allocates Rs. 1.5 billion for communicable disease control. Our preventive health service is a regional pride. A screening plan for all over 40s to detect NCDs early—cardiac, diabetes, vascular, renal, neurological—is underway, addressing our aging population.

¶ 09 Rs. 32.4 billion is allocated for maintenance, rehabilitation, and improvement of health infrastructure, including completing stalled buildings, plus Rs. 3.2 billion for new units.

¶ 10 Key welfare: Rs. 7.5 billion for a nutritional package for expectant mothers; revival of Triposha has begun and is welcome. The “Suwa Seriya” ambulance service also receives an allocation in this Budget.

¶ 11 The Minister detailed increases in salaries and allowances. We appreciate the health staff’s dedication and their decision to call off trade union action. Doctors and nurses sacrifice much—nurses, 95 percent women, balance family and duty, often caring for others while their own children or parents are unwell. This is laudable and appreciated.