The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 No, no. My time is not over. Give me my time. When we speak about something right, you shout and disrupt. That is your politics.

¶ 02 Madam Presiding Member, taking these matters one by one, the major issue we face today is the crisis in the health sector. These issues existed before and now they have come to you as well. You must manage and resolve them.

¶ 03 Especially, regarding the Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa’s speech about the Apeksha Hospital, he attempted to do a good thing—because we lack a proper health policy and plan—but he tried to present it in a certain way and got entangled. We clearly explained the main problems, Hon. Deputy Health Minister.

¶ 04 In our hospital system—divisional, provincial, teaching, and district general hospitals—there is no proper plan about required equipment and staffing levels. Therefore, I wished to speak on these.

¶ 05 Madam Presiding Member, another matter is about a Bill relating to the safety and well-being of patients. We raised this in the last two Parliaments; this is the third. We request that a committee be established and necessary measures be taken to protect patients as well as hospital staff.

¶ 06 Please allow me one more minute, Madam Presiding Member.

¶ 07 Regarding the NMRA, as a Hon. Member mentioned, the four relevant institutions are not integrated and therefore we still cannot take firm decisions on medicine control. Even now, an order for 250,000 bottles of mouthwash was awarded to a Bangladeshi company for Rs. 37 million through the NMRA under your Government. Now it has been stopped. Under your Government, who did this? I am not referring to you, Hon. Minister, but it has happened through officials. That company had been surcharged Rs. 127 million earlier, and yet was allowed to supply mouthwash.

¶ 08 After my speech, you may respond. The same tender has been given back to that company. I am not saying you stole; but under the NMRA Act this is still happening. Therefore, we must integrate the Medical Supplies Division, NMRA, SPC and SPMC and proceed with a coordinated programme.

¶ 09 Also, at the Kuliyapitiya Hospital, the phaco machine for cataract surgery has been broken for some time. A replacement process has not been put in place. There is a waiting list of about 1,000 people for cataract surgery at that hospital alone. Please provide the machine.

¶ 10 On Ayurveda, we all opposed the draft Bill because it only included Ayurveda and Unani, excluding traditional medicine. Generations have learned from their parents and grandparents; now they face unfairness. Some are being arrested and investigated. Traditional medicine is part of our history, learned from palm-leaf texts. We proposed many amendments and got many accepted. However, during review it appears that “Ayurveda” refers to a system from India, while our traditional physicians who learned from ancestors are being cornered. Your Government should bring amendments so they can continue their practice in an appropriate framework.

¶ 11 Finally, regarding the Regulation to ensure Patient Safety and Well-being: to my knowledge it is at the final stage. If brought, it will protect patients and benefit hospital staff. Even the GMOA has testified and agreed. If the new Parliament brings this Regulation immediately, we can prevent overcharging and other injustices. Thank you, Madam Presiding Member, for the time.