The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the Adjournment Motion moved today is very important. We should debate it without wasting time. In our country, such motions are essential to improve the health service.

¶ 02 Though there is a shortage of health workers islandwide, it is acutely felt in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, which faced 30 years of war. Many new hospitals and units have been built there, but the shortage of staff is severe. This cannot be fixed immediately; it requires sufficient time. I ask that within this year you take steps to alleviate the shortage in those provinces.

¶ 03 Even during the war we maintained primary health care well in the North and East. Vaccination coverage was almost 100 percent. With your support, there is no doubt that we can deliver efficient services there.

¶ 04 Hon. Health Minister, I commend you for issuing, in 2025 through the Ministry of Health, the Manual for the management of different levels of hospitals—guidance on how to efficiently use limited resources—for Divisional Hospitals and PMCUs. This is very important. Please issue such manuals for all levels to improve services with our limited resources.

¶ 05 Due to the current critical issue of drug shortages, doctors are compelled to write prescriptions to buy outside. Therefore, the Ministry should establish SPC branches in every district so that patients benefit.

¶ 06 Traditional medical systems like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani are widely used. Multiple local firms produce Ayurveda medicines, but Siddha medicines are not produced locally and must be imported from India, attracting special taxes. I request that tax concessions be granted this year for imported Siddha medicines.

¶ 07 In Vavuniya District, an Accident and Emergency Unit commenced in 2016; construction is about 50 percent complete and then stalled. About Rs. 450 million more is required to complete it. Please allocate funds in this year’s Budget.

¶ 08 Across small government hospitals and dispensaries countrywide, there are problems due to the absence of trained pharmacists and dispensers; sometimes drugs are wrongly dispensed. At least in all government facilities, please arrange to appoint trained pharmacists to ensure correctness.

¶ 09 In Ampara, the Thirukkovil hospital has long remained a base hospital with many shortcomings. The Hon. Member Kodiswaran has repeatedly mentioned this. Please pay special attention and address them. Likewise, due to prolonged war, the Mullaitivu District General Hospital also faces many deficiencies. Hon. Ravikaran and I have requested action from the Minister. Please consider it and resolve these issues. Thank you.