Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I thank Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna for bringing this proposal at the time of adjournment to introduce a National Strategic Plan relating to eye diseases. We do need a strategic plan. Our Ministry has prepared such a plan, aligned with WHO Vision 2030 targets. It is structured according to the global eye health indicators to be achieved by 2030.

¶ 02 We expect to increase the effective coverage of cataract surgeries by 30 per cent. There is a service gap in Sri Lanka. Therefore, in recent times, together with the College of Ophthalmologists and eye specialists, we conducted special programmes, particularly in areas with larger waiting lists, to rapidly reduce the backlog. In many places, we were able to shorten the waiting lists.

¶ 03 We have also allocated a special fund through the President’s Fund, and where appropriate, directed patients to the private sector so that cataract surgeries for those on waiting lists can be done as quickly as possible. Cataract-related blindness is preventable. If cataracts persist for a long time, it may become impossible to restore vision to the previous level—this is the unfortunate reality. Surgery alone is not sufficient; patients need spectacles afterwards. That is the next issue. Such a programme has not functioned properly in Sri Lanka. Therefore, we are implementing a programme to provide spectacles following surgery.

¶ 04 Regarding diabetic retinopathy: after the onset of diabetes, changes occur in the eye leading to retinopathy, a major cause of visual impairment in Sri Lanka. It is preventable. What must be done is at least an annual eye check for those with diabetes. We have strengthened hospital facilities for this and arranged referral pathways from hospitals lacking facilities to those that have them. On refractive errors, these must be corrected with spectacles. We have set out procedures to detect and support this. Likewise, for retinopathy of prematurity: since babies born before term do not have fully developed eyes, we must screen 100 per cent of them. We have established certification systems and processes to ensure this.

¶ 05 We also run school and pre-school vision screening programmes. In schools with under 2,000 children, we screen annually; in larger schools, we screen Grades 1, 4 and 7. We procure what is needed for the country. The problem is whether children identified with errors receive proper treatment at hospitals, especially the provision of spectacles. Currently, the system allows partial reimbursement of the bill after purchase. What we should do instead is directly intervene and provide the spectacles, securing lower costs and reducing the burden on the Government. In Colombo and Kandy hospitals, there are technicians and equipment to fabricate spectacles; I believe other hospitals also have such capacity. However, this function has been absent from the hospital system for some time.

¶ 06 On corneal opacity—another cause of blindness—Sri Lanka provides high-quality corneas. After some of our people pass away, they donate their eyes, and we even export corneas. From 2011 to 30 September 2025, the Sri Lanka National Eye Hospital has successfully performed 15,549 corneal graft surgeries. I table the detailed summary for anyone to see.

¶ 07 There is a shortage of ophthalmologists in our country, and there are concerns about the quality of service delivery. As Hon. Archchuna stated, many of these are administrative issues. We are taking maximum measures to resolve them. If there are organized referrals of patients outward and large sums are being charged, we should certainly investigate.

¶ 08 It was also mentioned that letters to the Ministry are not being answered. Letters received by our Ministry should indeed be answered. For letters to the Minister’s office, our personal staff handle them. I will inquire from the Ministry whether there is such an issue.

¶ 09 Finally, regarding the concerns raised about doctors: not only for doctors but for every professional in this country, we stand for their due rights and privileges. Given the current economic realities, we are providing what we can. We have not taken any decision to remove any right or privilege of any professional. There is a small propaganda campaign; we need not bow to it. We are steadily stabilizing the economy, and the benefits of that stabilization must be reinvested into the economy itself. Under improved conditions, we can then enjoy those benefits. Our professionals are well aware and well-studied on these matters. We are in continuous dialogue with the majority of professionals and maintain ongoing engagement. Therefore, none of them are prepared to drag the country into unnecessary issues at this time, though a small group, for political reasons, may show up.

¶ 10 In any case, on today’s subject—eye diseases—speaking in Parliament and bringing proposals is very good. We must repeatedly bring such matters into public discussion. We thank Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna for providing this opportunity.

¶ 11 Table tabled: National Eye Hospital - Summary of the Surgeries (2020 - Sep 2025)

¶ 12 - General Ophthalmology Unit Surgeries: 2020: 17,751; 2021: 13,836; 2022: 21,513; 2023: 21,448; 2024: 19,813; 2025 (to 30.09): 16,168 - Cataract Surgery: 2020: 8,814; 2021: 7,245; 2022: 11,862; 2023: 12,164; 2024: 12,824; 2025 (to 30.09): 9,807 - Vitreo-Retinal Surgeries: 2020: 4,839; 2021: 4,887; 2022: 6,265; 2023: 5,327; 2024: 5,901; 2025 (to 30.09): 5,420 - Corneal & External Eye Diseases: 2020: 960; 2021: 804; 2022: 513; 2023: 1,583; 2024: 1,886; 2025 (to 30.09): 1,078 - Oculoplastic Surgeries: 2020: 713; 2021: 536; 2022: 845; 2023: 998; 2024: 898; 2025 (to 30.09): 604