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

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, I answer the Question.

¶ 02 (a) (i) Identified issues: 1. Nutrition: - Under-5 child malnutrition - Anaemia and nutrition issues among pregnant mothers

¶ 03 2. Oral health: - Mobile dental clinics reduced due to no dental surgeon for Malaygala Tamil School area - No dental surgeon at Galaha Hospital

¶ 04 3. Maternal and child health: - Inadequate staff for maternal and child services in the Galaha MOH division

¶ 05 4. Deltota District Hospital: - Shortage of a Public Health Nursing Officer

¶ 06 (ii) Present grading: 1. Deltota District Hospital – C grade 2. Galaha Divisional Hospital – B grade 3. Pattiyagama-Pallegama Divisional Hospital – C grade

¶ 07 (iii) Approved cadre and present staff: Provided in Annex 01.

¶ 08 Annex 01 Deltota District Hospital - Medical Officer: Approved 2; In service 2 - Dental Surgeon: Approved 1; In service 0 - RMO/AMO: Approved 2; In service 1 - Nursing Officer: Approved 10; In service 8 - PHNO: Approved 0; In service 1 - Ward Sister: Approved 1; In service 0 - Medical Laboratory Technician: Approved 0; In service 1 - Dispenser: Approved 1; In service 1 - Management Service Officer: Approved 1; In service 1 - Driver: Approved 1; In service 1 - Development Officer: Approved 1; In service 1 - Saukya Karya Sahayaka (Ordinary): Approved 4; In service 4 - Saukya Karya Sahayaka (Junior): Approved 7; In service 0 - Saukya Karya Sahayaka (Junior)*: Approved 0; In service 0

¶ 09 Galaha Divisional Hospital - Medical Officer: Approved 2; In service 1 - Dental Surgeon: Approved 1; In service 0 - RMO/AMO: Approved 2; In service 1 - Nursing Officer: Approved 4; In service 4 - PHNO: Approved 0; In service 0 - PHM: Approved 0; In service 2 - Ward Sister: Approved 1; In service 0 - Medical Laboratory Technician: Approved 0; In service 1 - Dispenser: Approved 1; In service 1 - Management Service Officer: Approved 1; In service 1 - Driver: Approved 1; In service 1 - Development Officer: Approved 1; In service 0 - Hospital Overseer: Approved 1; In service 0 - Attendant: Approved 0; In service 0 - Saukya Karya Sahayaka (Ordinary): Approved 4; In service 4 - Saukya Karya Sahayaka (Junior): Approved 2; In service 2 - Saukya Karya Sahayaka (Junior)*: Approved 4; In service 3 - Watcher: Approved 2; In service 1

¶ 10 Pattiyagama-Pallegama Divisional Hospital - Medical Officer: Approved 2; In service 2 - Dental Surgeon: Approved 0; In service 0 - RMO/AMO: Approved 1; In service 0 - Nursing Officer: Approved 4; In service 4 - PHNO: Approved 0; In service 0 - PHM: Approved 2; In service 1 - Medical Laboratory Technician: Approved 0; In service 0 - Dispenser: Approved 1; In service 1 - Management Service Officer: Approved 1; In service 1 - Driver: Approved 1; In service 0 - Development Officer: Approved 0; In service 0 - Hospital Overseer: Approved 1; In service 0 - Saukya Karya Sahayaka (Ordinary): Approved 4; In service 4 - Saukya Karya Sahayaka (Junior): Approved 2; In service 1 - Saukya Karya Sahayaka (Junior)*: Approved 0; In service 0

¶ 11 (iv) As per data in Annex 02, during recent years in OCH and Doluwa MOH areas, there have been no maternal deaths attributable to transport from these hospitals.

¶ 12 Regarding ICU facilities: Establishing ICUs in divisional hospitals requires a specialist cadre including an anaesthetist. Such cadres are approved only for secondary or higher-level care hospitals. Therefore ICUs are not established in divisional hospitals. However, fully equipped Emergency Treatment Units (ETUs) have been set up as needed.

¶ 13 Annex 02 Maternal Deaths – MOH Doluwa 1) 2021: 27 years, G4 C2; PHM Area Hunugala; Place of Death: NH Kandy; Cause: Burns 2) 2023: 35 years, G3 C3; PHM Area Pupurassa; Place of Death: NH Kandy; Cause: Brain tumour 3) 2024: 33 years, G3 C2; PHM Area Millagahamula; Place of Death: NH Kandy; Cause: Septic abortion 4) 2024: 35 years, G2 P2; PHM Area Kahawatta; Place of Death: BH Gampola; Cause: Placental abruption

¶ 14 Maternal Deaths – MOH Galaha 1) 2021: 34 years, G3 C1; PHM Area Loolkandura; Place of Death: NH Kandy; Cause: COVID 2) 2024: 25 years, G3 C2; PHM Area Bopitiya; Place of Death: TH Peradeniya; Cause: Pulmonary embolism 3) 2024: 25 years, G2 C0; PHM Area Galaha; Place of Death: TH Peradeniya; Cause: TB, Pneumonia

¶ 15 Deltota Anura Daniel District Hospital: No policy decision has yet been taken to upgrade it as a Base Hospital.

¶ 16 Recent and ongoing development projects (details in Annex 03).

¶ 17 Annex 03 Deltota District Hospital 1) Renovation of old OPD building – Rs. 17,024,188.74 (2019–2023) – HSEP 2) Corridor between ETU and OPD, access road and gate – Rs. 3,655,854.83 (2023) – PSSP

¶ 18 Galaha Divisional Hospital 1) New OPD building – Rs. 19,649,377.70 – HSEP 2) Renovation/refurbishment of clinic building – Rs. 3,918,570.34 – PSSP

¶ 19 Pattiyagama-Pallegama Divisional Hospital 1) Renovation/refurbishment and expansion of OPD – Rs. 6,438,145.90 (2023) – PSIP 2) Ambulance garage, restroom and examination room – Rs. 14,135,044.90 (2024–2025) – PSDG

¶ 20 2026 Plans (provisioned; under estimation/procurement): - Deltota: Renovate/refurbish male/female wards – Rs. 10.00 mn (PSDP) – estimates being prepared - Deltota: Construct store room – Rs. 10.00 mn (PSDP) – estimates being prepared - Pattiyagama-Pallegama: Construct quarters – procurement referred

¶ 21 (b) (i) Additional ambulances: Due to Cyclone “Ditwah,” many roads in Kandy District were damaged by landslides and slips. Deploying additional ambulances under such conditions is ineffective. However, emergency services at these hospitals were strengthened, with staff, essential medicines and facilities provided to manage the situation. Each of the three hospitals has one ambulance, and 1990 ambulances are also on standby.

¶ 22 (ii) Special workforce: Given the disaster impact across many areas in Kandy District, all health staff were on 24-hour readiness. Medical teams were deployed as required to ensure uninterrupted services.

¶ 23 (c) Does not arise.