The Hon. Presiding Member

¶ 01 With those processes, we expect proper regulation across three areas: health workers, the health service, and health institutions.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I wish to recall another matter. In 2008, we were on the verge of a grave mistake. What was it? We have a well-managed and highly efficient blood bank system in Sri Lanka because we have many blood donors. Therefore, reforms were not required. However, by 2008, preliminary discussions had begun to privatize the blood bank, as if it were any other commercial or lending bank. Hon. Deputy Minister, a blood bank is not that kind of bank. Had the blood bank been privatized then, today we would be compelled to pay money for blood. Fortunately, trade unions and the public prevented the privatization of the blood bank. We must remember that. Such arbitrary decisions generally led to the collapse of the health sector. Therefore, I thought it necessary to recall this as well.

¶ 03 Next, there was discussion regarding the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). We always tend to point the finger at the institution itself. There was talk of substandard drugs. However, NMRA is not the only institution with control over medicines. There are regulatory processes and laboratories for medicines. For the system to function, these processes must operate properly. However, there had been a great deal of corruption and fraud within these processes. At that time, the NMRA did not even have an appeals committee. Even if someone wanted to complain about substandard medicines, there was no avenue. By now, we have fulfilled all those requirements.

¶ 04 It was alleged there is no consensus among institutions. But SPC, NMRA, and SPMC meet weekly, confer, and make decisions together. Therefore, we believe we can build a health system where tragedies like those that cost lives in the past will not recur.

¶ 05 On preventable blindness, as the Hon. Deputy Minister mentioned, when we assumed office, about 2% of the population was suffering from preventable blindness. There had been a process—lenses were previously provided—but that process was abruptly stopped by the former good governance government, after which complete blindness began to rise.

¶ 06 Hon. Presiding Member, recently we have been working with understanding on all these matters.

¶ 07 Another issue raised in this House was the alleged shortage of medicines. It was stated that insulin and bicarbonate were unavailable. Those medicines are now in the system. If needed, they can be obtained from the nearest hospital pharmacy under local purchase. There is no shortage now; both categories are available.

¶ 08 Under our policy direction, going forward the health system will be digitized, wastage will be minimized, quality control will be implemented, and medicine prices will be regulated so that patients can obtain medicines at affordable prices. We are optimistic about the future. Hon. Presiding Member, if these health policies are implemented consistently, we can build a health system on par with global standards.

¶ 09 Thank you for the time granted. I conclude my remarks.