The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, our Minister of Health and Mass Media spoke in detail about the status of the Ministry of Health, health services and professionals; how we have developed; and how long-standing issues within the Ministry are being resolved, including medicines and other matters, with statistics and data.

¶ 02 As we discuss the largest expenditure head—Health and Mass Media—I too wish to speak about our country’s health service. We must acknowledge that the health service stands where it is today because of our health workers. Many speakers highlighted this today.

¶ 03 When Sri Lanka became a bankrupt state—with low per capita income and high poverty—our health and education indicators still matched developed countries. Maternal mortality, infant mortality and life expectancy place Sri Lanka high. This is not merely due to consistent funding or management over the years, but because health workers toiled under very difficult conditions. We must emphasize that. For the first time, a people’s government is in office that can create proper facilities and provide necessary support commensurate with the sacrifices and hardships of our health workers. I believe we can make even greater strides ahead.

¶ 04 As someone who worked in a difficult hospital, I know how doctors, nurses, attendants, drivers and other staff stayed in remote villages without even basic shops and still kept services going—often using their own money. That is how we eliminated many diseases. From the day of marriage to the early months after childbirth, a Public Health Midwife visits every home. A doctor is within reachable distance for everyone, exceeding working hours. In such conditions, the service progressed. This government is providing facilities, recognition and appropriate salary structures for them. This Budget takes the first step in that direction.

¶ 05 Much has been said about brain drain. I addressed this with figures in my first speech here. Many left not only due to pay but due to uncertainty about the country’s future, their children’s future, access to medicines, the rise of underworld politics, lack of justice, and absence of a clear national direction. Many in the health sector supported bringing this government to change that uncertain future and make this a livable country. We have taken the first steps. Beyond salary increases, we are setting the country on a path where people can live with dignity and safety. The Minister of Health’s speech also made this clear.

¶ 06 Through four months of rational procurement of medicine, we saved about Rs. 1,750 million—no small feat. We are presenting this Budget while under IMF constraints; we cannot determine every aspect of expenditure as we wish. The true decisions before us were where to save, where to allocate more, and what to cut. We curbed all forms of corruption and waste to generate and save funds, and cut even from the President’s and MPs’ allocations to return every possible rupee to the people. That is how we managed an unexpectedly large salary increase. I must reiterate that.

¶ 07 Hon. Presiding Member, my time is over.

¶ 08 Please allow me 30 more seconds.

¶ 09 For doctors and other health workers, beyond the headline increase, we have increased basic pay, enhanced extra duty and hourly rates, and reduced the punitive taxes imposed by Ranil Wickremesinghe. From April, a doctor will take home Rs. 30,000–35,000 more than in March. This is unlike previous increases. If any issues arise within the overall process, this is your government; engage with us openly. Nothing is hidden; this is not the final Budget either. We can discuss and resolve matters transparently. We should not look back to the old political avatars who overtaxed people and drove them out of the country. We believe the April increases will enable health workers to perform even better.

¶ 10 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.