The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka

¶ 01 Thank you.

¶ 02 Madam Presiding Member, since this is a health-related Adjournment Debate and the Minister is present, in five minutes I wish to raise issues about the leading hospital in my Galle District—Karapitiya Hospital. It is the main hospital in the Southern Province and, I believe, the third largest in the country, recently elevated to a National Hospital. Over 1,800 OPD patients and about 2,000 inpatients are treated daily. Patients come not only from Galle, Matara, and Hambantota, but also from Ratnapura, Embilipitiya, and Monaragala.

¶ 03 Recently a national newspaper reported: “Galle National Hospital’s cardiac patient queue extends for a year. Angiogram machine down for a month. Cardiac patients on deathbeds. No tests for those with appointments.” The angiography machine in the cardiac catheterization unit has been inactive since 5 December—over two months—due to a failed tube. It is regrettable that it has not yet been imported and repaired. Patients’ lives are at risk, and poor patients are forced to go to private hospitals at great expense. Please expedite repairs.

¶ 04 Former Health Minister Ramesh Pathirana, from our district, decided that one angiography machine is insufficient for Karapitiya and initiated procurement of another. As far as I know, tenders were called. Please look into that as well.

¶ 05 The ambulance service at Karapitiya is in a dire state. Of 11 ambulances, only three are operational. For critical transfers, there are no ambulances. Repairs are delayed due to procedural bottlenecks. While we must prevent corruption and follow rules, we should not be trapped by circulars when delivering essential services. I trust you will take structured, efficient steps. Please urgently address these district issues. I will yield my remaining time to other Members.