Topic
Healthcare
895 speeches · 200 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 185 |
| 2 | Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni, M.P. JJB | 62 |
| 3 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 50 |
| 4 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 25 |
| 5 | Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, M.P. JJB | 18 |
| 6 | Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran, M.P. ITAK | 17 |
| 7 | Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 17 |
| 8 | Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, M.P. SJB | 14 |
| 9 | Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, M.P. SJB | 13 |
| 10 | Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, M.P. SJB | 13 |
Speeches
895 on this topic- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence provided figures on the Government’s recurrent cost of training a medical student, estimating Rs. 495,000 annually and Rs. 2.475 million over five years, excluding clinical training and KDU Teaching Hospital maintenance costs. He stated that applications for non-cadet local medical students for the 2025/2026 academic year at KDU have been called online and that clinical training is conducted by KDU faculty specialists and specialists from KDU, state, and tri-forces hospitals. He noted that questions 4, 5, and 6 would be answered by the relevant Ministry. Ministerial Statement: Medical Faculty Suspension at Kotelawala Defence University Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Appreciation is expressed for health staff service, with emphasis on providing physical resources, technology, and adequate support staff as the best form of recognition. It is noted that the previous Budget increased basic salaries for all public servants, including health workers, thereby affecting overtime and allowances, and that further allowances may be pursued with the Ministry of Finance as economic conditions improve. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Asked whether measures are in place to recognize and motivate medical officers, specialists, and staff who continue to serve in remote and difficult areas despite doctors leaving the country or moving to urban hospitals. He highlighted the commitment of the Medical Superintendent and hospital staff in such conditions. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Deniyaya Hospital currently functions as a “B” category Base Hospital, and facilities will be added to meet that status. The Minister stated that no decision has been finalized to change its classification, noting that Matara already has a District General Hospital, but the Government intends to provide the maximum possible facilities to the Deniyaya Base Hospital. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Asked where the proposed new Deniyaya Hospital will be located, noting that the historic existing hospital was originally built by the British for plantation workers. He framed the question in the context of the Government’s stated priority on health and increased health-sector funding. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary In response to Question 867/2025, details were provided on 38 health institutions in Matara District, including 2024 figures for OPD visits, inpatient treatments and clinic visits, with a detailed annex tabled. It was stated that Deniyaya Base Hospital is 127 years old based on available records, and that plans have been prepared to construct a new 300-bed base hospital at a new site, with funding requested under Budget 2026. Interim measures at the existing site include stabilizing landslide-prone areas and managing internal space to maintain safe patient care. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister said recent irregularities and corruption in the procurement of medicines, vaccines, surgical items and test kits require stricter procurement procedures. He stated that unnecessary delays in compliant procurements would be removed, but all parties must follow due process and ensure transparency in a medicines and devices market worth about Rs. 350 billion annually. He said the Government would act lawfully to secure timely and quality supplies. Standing Order 27(2): Central Bank Accountability and Medicine Procurement Delays Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned delays in the State medicines procurement process despite Rs. 155 billion being allocated for 2025, citing a 189-day procurement cycle and litigation that can delay tenders for years. He asked whether the private sector could procure more efficiently and argued that overregulation, committee delays, and officials’ fear of legal exposure were preventing timely purchases. He called for urgent reform of procurement procedures to avoid recurring shortages and implementation delays. Standing Order 27(2): Central Bank Accountability and Medicine Procurement Delays Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa said recent medicine shortages were largely due to delayed 2025 procurement orders, noting that the process requires 9-11 months and many orders were received too late for timely supply. He stated that 2026 procurement was initiated in January 2025, with tenders called, evaluations underway and some awards already made, alongside oversight measures following COPA recommendations. He said coordination among MSD, SPC, NMRA and other institutions continues through weekly reviews, local and emergency procurement mechanisms, e-procurement improvements and the “Swastha” IT system to manage facility-level shortages and transfers. Standing Order 27(2): Central Bank Accountability and Medicine Procurement Delays Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister stated that most pharmacy owners have complied with the relevant Act, while a small minority is objecting through the media and political channels. He said the Government has ensured fairness for the compliant majority and rejected any request that would amount to allowing pharmacies to disregard the law. Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa said his concern was not to justify pharmacies operating without pharmacists, but to highlight the lack of adequate training programmes since the 2015 Act raised standards. He accepted that pharmacies must meet qualification requirements and called for an immediate accelerated programme to train pharmacists and dispensers, citing shortages affecting about 66 pharmacies and the wider health sector, in order to protect patients’ rights and lives. Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary Minister Nalinda Jayatissa answered the Leader of the Opposition’s Standing Order 27(2) question on pharmacist registration, pharmacy licensing and regulatory enforcement. He stated that Sri Lanka has 6,368 actively registered pharmacists, 57,035 trainee pharmacists, 191 public-sector pharmacist vacancies, and 4,803 registered retail pharmacies, while universities produce about 100-150 pharmacy graduates annually. He said the Sri Lanka Medical Schools’ Council has not decided to discontinue the external pharmacist examination and will conduct it twice a year to address shortages. He added that the NMRA approved about 90 per cent of 2025 pharmacy licence renewals by 18 July, with 219 temporarily withheld mainly due to lack of a full-time pharmacist or non-compliance with community pharmacy standards under the NMRA Act. Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary The Leader of the Opposition raised a medicine shortage at Ward 8H of Kalubowila Hospital, citing shortages of pain relief drugs, antibiotics, and vitamins. He said he would submit the shortage list and notice-board photographs to the Minister and requested action to ensure the required medicines are supplied for patients. Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about pharmacist shortages affecting pharmacy operations and called for interim measures to protect consumer safety while maintaining service continuity. He requested data on registered pharmacists, shortages, pharmacy ownership, annual graduates, degree-qualified pharmacists, and pass rates for the external pharmacist examination. He also asked whether the Government plans to change or abolish external pharmacist training and examinations, how private sector needs would be met, and how many pharmacy licence renewals the NMRA rejected in 2025 and for what reasons. Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Raised under Standing Order 27(2), the matter concerns the NMRA’s renewed strict enforcement of pharmacy regulations under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015, including reported refusals to renew many pharmacy licences. He asked the Minister to clarify the situation, noting pharmacy owners’ concerns that enforcement is being intensified without first addressing the national shortage of qualified pharmacists, while also acknowledging the importance of pharmacists for safe prescription interpretation and medicine dispensing. Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara raised concern that certain measures could affect the EPF and asked about the status of a proposed hospital to be built using private sector EPF contributions for private sector workers, noting that land and funds were reportedly allocated. He also drew attention to kidney disease affecting workers and questioned the lack of accessible testing and support for kidney patients. Oral Question: Employees' Provident Fund - Investments in Share Market (Q.217/2024) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni JJB AI summary SPC officials inspected a proposed building in Mannar on 15 July 2025 and found it suitable for a Rajya Osusala, but the financial assessment indicated that a full outlet would incur significant losses even with minimum staff. Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni said officials have been instructed to reassess a lower-cost pharmacy window or branch model under the district SPC head office to reduce administrative and staffing costs while maintaining patient access, with establishment expected as soon as possible. Question by Private Notice: Rajya Osusala Outlet in Mannar Town (Q. Private Notice 2) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan sought an update on establishing a Rajya Osusala outlet in Mannar Town, noting that land near the Mannar Kachcheri had earlier been allocated and approved by the SPC technical team for a prefabricated sales centre. He said the new SPC management later cited lack of funds and requested an existing building instead, despite a Health Minister’s instruction to proceed. He asked the Government to state the feasibility and next steps, including whether two Municipal Council buildings submitted for consideration could be used. Question by Private Notice: Rajya Osusala Outlet in Mannar Town (Q. Private Notice 2) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary The member questioned the Government’s commitment to prioritizing local manufacturers, noting that 60–70 per cent of required medicines are still imported. She asked what steps would be taken to address delays in NMRA registrations affecting local pharmaceutical manufacturers, including delays that hinder export registration. Oral Question: Apeksha Hospital Treatment and Medicines (Q.1) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that discussions with the President involved Health Ministry officials and Ministers, not the Government Medical Officers’ Association, and focused on improving the medicine supply chain, procurement processes, and use of State Pharmaceutical Corporation funds. He said there was no major overall medicine shortage at Maharagama, noting that temporary gaps are being addressed through local purchases authorized to the hospital Director and through the Named Patient approval process for high-cost medicines. Oral Question: Apeksha Hospital Treatment and Medicines (Q.1) Read →