The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip

¶ 01 I examined what exactly is being asked regarding Puttalam.

¶ 02 Hon. Speaker, in response to the question raised under Standing Order 27(2) by Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, my answers are as follows:

¶ 03 1. Base hospitals directly connected to Puttalam District: - Type B Base Hospitals – 01 (Puttalam) - Type A Base Hospitals – 03 (Anamaduwa, Kalpitiya, Marawila)

¶ 04 2. Puttalam Base Hospital is a Type “A” Base Hospital.

¶ 05 3. Puttalam Hospital was upgraded to Type A under General Circular Letter No. 02-61/2005 dated 2005.05.11. (Annex tabled.)

¶ 06 4. Hon. Speaker, there appears to be a translation error in the question I received. It asks whether there is an administrative officer. I believe the Member intends to ask about the Medical Superintendent (MS). An administrative officer is in post on a permanent basis; the officer functioning as the medical authority is acting.

¶ 07 5. There is no permanent Accountant. Duties are currently performed by Mrs. W.A.N.P.C. Jayasena, Accountant, Office of the Regional Director of Health Services, Puttalam.

¶ 08 6. As it is a base hospital, the approved cadre is 95. Currently there are 83 doctors in post; hence, 12 vacancies exist.

¶ 09 7. The last cadre revision for Puttalam Hospital was in 2017. In fact, the entire hospital system’s cadre revision was done that year. For 2024–2025, staff reviews across the health sector are ongoing.

¶ 10 8. In terms of staffing for a District General Hospital, staffing will be calculated based on cadre norms per General Circular No. 01-18/2020 dated 2020.03.03, which specifies facilities and staffing for District General Hospitals, following the Planning Department’s cadre norms.

¶ 11 Regarding whether we have planned to increase staffing in line with a promise by the President, the Ministry’s 2020 circular specifies, from National Hospitals down to PMCUs, the required staffing.

¶ 12 9. On whether we can fill vacancies amid doctor and specialist shortages: despite emigration, continuous recruitment and training are being conducted to fill vacancies, and human resources are being managed to ensure uninterrupted, orderly service delivery. The retirement age of all doctors has been extended to 63 to mitigate shortages. Further, to reduce specialist gaps, specialists who complete overseas training are being temporarily assigned to SOB(D) hospitals to fill urgent needs, sometimes even prior to Board Certification.

¶ 13 10. Regarding merely changing the nameboard when there are staff shortages: we have not done that. Any upgrade to a higher category is done by assessing the relevant criteria per the circular I mentioned.

¶ 14 11. As Puttalam is currently a Type “A” Base Hospital, once the services, facilities, and staffing required for that category are fully met, we will then consider upgrading.

¶ 15 (Annex tabled: General Circular Letter No. 02-61/2005 on Hospital Re-Categorization.)