The Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara

¶ 01 Nevertheless, this is from your own statements on a website.

¶ 02 For 77 years the Opposition groups that ruled this country handled health in the way we all know. We, who worked long in the health service, saw the realities inside. Our policy declaration “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” is aimed at creating “a healthy life and a healthy people.” Within a short time since forming the Government, we have corrected some areas in health.

¶ 03 Regarding physical resources, with our intervention we are expanding cath lab services and adding linear accelerators for radiotherapy to improve services. We plan new cath labs in Hambantota, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, Badulla, and Ampara, and work has begun on some. With ADB funds, linear accelerators are being arranged for the NHSL, Kandy National Hospital, Jaffna Teaching Hospital, and Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, expanding cancer and cardiac treatment capacity.

¶ 04 On human resources, many problems exist across health cadres due to how former rulers treated health over 76 years. Specialists, doctors, nurses, allied health and support staff work with minimal facilities. The public invests significant tax money to produce specialists, yet previous governments failed to retain them—failing even to provide quarters or basic facilities—leading to emigration. In Ratnapura District, many hospitals face specialist shortages: Balangoda Base Hospital lacks four consultants; the former consultant surgeon migrated; no anaesthetist; no radiologist; and no paediatrician. At Kalawana Base Hospital there is no anaesthetist and the physician is set to go for foreign training. At Kahawatta Base Hospital three consultants short; at Eheliyagoda Hospital two consultants short. Wrong policy decisions like the PAYE threshold cut reduced take-home pay and drove staff away. Our Government raised the PAYE threshold from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 1.5 million per month, providing relief to many in health. We are also increasing basic allowances through the Budget and introducing new benefits to many health workers.

¶ 05 Our hospitals, especially OPDs and clinics, face huge patient loads due to inadequate staffing. We are still operating on cadres set in 2018, not updated to 2024 needs. There is also a weakness in recruiting trained allied health personnel already in the pipeline. Our Government is intervening to resolve these quickly and bring the service to a better state. We will act to deliver on our policy and ensure a healthy life for our people. Thank you.