Hon. Imran Maharoof

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. The Regulations presented today under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act by the Hon. Minister of Health are indeed commendable. The programme to regulate medicine prices and ensure supply is welcome. However, certain issues have been highlighted; taking them into account, our collective expectation is that quality medicines should be available to patients. We therefore welcome these measures.

¶ 02 Today there are many needs and deficiencies in the health sector. Regardless of which party is in power, attention must be paid to health. Many hospitals across regions face shortages. Even if 100 percent service cannot be provided, at least the minimum essential services should reach the people.

¶ 03 Hon. Presiding Member, in our Trincomalee District, the base hospitals most used by patients are Kinniya and Muttur. These two are Provincial Council hospitals. Given current circumstances, a question arises whether the Province can adequately maintain them. Though the Trincomalee District General Hospital and the Kantale Hospital are under the Central Government, the hospitals most utilized by patients are Kinniya and Muttur. We request that these two Provincial Council hospitals be brought under the Central Government—not to diminish the powers of the Eastern Provincial Council, but to ensure people in those areas receive better health services. Though there are many matters to raise, time is short.

¶ 04 At present, the Hon. Minister is not in the Chamber; he is visiting hospitals. The Kinniya, Muttur, Thambalagamuwa and Pulmoddai hospitals in our district exist mostly in name, with many additional needs. Therefore, I kindly request the Hon. Minister to visit these hospitals, listen to the deficiencies and address them.

¶ 05 Hon. Presiding Member, I wish to conclude by mentioning another issue in Trincomalee. Employees of the Lanka Mineral Sands Company have been conducting a peaceful protest at the premises for five days. Salaries of about 83 employees have not been paid for around 15 months. They are conducting this agitation seeking their due salaries. This warrants attention. There are complaints about shortcomings in jobs provided by the previous Government; many matters are being discussed. As a Government, you must take action and pay the outstanding salaries, as their families—their wives and children—are suffering. The Government must act to resolve this.