The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity. Today we debate the Heads of Expenditure of Health and Mass Media. First, I thank the Government for focusing on issues of health professionals—doctors, nurses, and all cadres. Many in Government have themselves led trade union struggles in the past; now in office, they understand and can resolve these issues.

¶ 02 Sri Lanka’s health service today contains attributes of developed systems—a result of policies across successive governments and health ministers. This Budget proposes further improvements—digitalization and strengthening primary care. Yet we see long queues and hardships for ordinary people at facilities; funds earmarked for primary care must be used to organize and expand these services.

¶ 03 Allocations must be managed well. Governments spend big on emergencies—accidents, drug-related morbidity, dengue. We should invest in prevention: community education, school curricula, and regulation to reduce downstream costs.

¶ 04 We recall the outstanding service during COVID-19—doctors, nurses, junior staff, PHMs, PHIs—all went beyond duty to protect the nation. However, we observed shortages of specialists and other staff in some hospitals; many migrate, weakening the sector. We must now expand postgraduate training through the PGIM to produce more specialists and doctors for the system.

¶ 05 Local pharmaceutical production has improved—from 850 essential items, about 210 are locally produced, roughly 20% of needs. The current Government must raise this to 60–70% if possible—this would be a major contribution.

¶ 06 Outpatient departments are overwhelmed—at Karapitiya, people arrive at 4–5 a.m. and endure long waits. Please expand OPDs where possible.

¶ 07 On waiting lists for critical surgeries—cardiac and others—people wait too long, risking life, often pawning assets to go private. If we can institute processes to minimize waiting, that would be invaluable.

¶ 08 At Galle National Hospital, the cath lab “dye test” machine has been out of order for a long time. Since both the Health Minister and State Minister have Galle connections, please attend to it. Galle is a health hub—Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Galle National Hospital, and Helmut Kohl Maternity Hospital, one of South Asia’s largest. Please address deficits in Udugama, Balapitiya, Habaraduwa, Imaduwa, etc., and complete works begun by prior ministers.

¶ 09 Independent journalists face hardship—lack of equipment, access to bank credit. Please consider a program to support independent media professionals.

¶ 10 May this Government’s health program reach a level where our parents can obtain medicines free at public hospitals, and the service be truly excellent. Thank you.