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- 24 July 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella raised concern over an island-wide shortage of medicines in hospitals, specifically highlighting a serious shortage of paediatric oncology medicines at Apeksha Hospital. Referring to the President’s discussion on 22 July about urgent resolution of the issue, she asked the Deputy Minister to state the expected timeframe for addressing the shortages. Oral Question: Apeksha Hospital Treatment and Medicines (Q.1) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, the Deputy Minister provided figures on Apeksha Hospital, stating that 6,700 new patients were registered from January to 30 June 2025, 36,000 patients were on clinic rolls, and 950 to 1,000 patients attended clinics daily. He said the hospital accepts only in-kind donations directly, while monetary donations are held through the National Health Development Fund, with the balance increasing to about Rs. 478 million by May 2025. He stated that no funds had yet been utilized from the donation account, but procurement was underway for a new CT scanner, after which remaining funds would be used for essential medical equipment. Oral Question: Apeksha Hospital Treatment and Medicines (Q.1) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media to provide details on the current number of patients receiving treatment at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, and the balance in its donation account at the start of 2025. She further requested a year-by-year breakdown from 2020 of donation funds used and unused, and information on measures taken to ensure those donations are utilized productively. Oral Question: Apeksha Hospital Treatment and Medicines (Q.1) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan welcomed the Bill increasing the national minimum wage for private-sector employees, but argued that plantation workers remain underpaid and pressed the Government to implement a daily plantation wage of Rs. 1,700 or Rs. 2,000 as previously pledged. He questioned why the Government, despite its parliamentary majority, had not secured this increase and said a motion would be brought seeking support. He also called for Youth Clubs to be created according to estate areas rather than only GN divisions and warned against political interference through local authority leadership. He further welcomed Indian-assisted plantation housing plans while urging faster implementation, and asked that promised Government takeovers of estate hospitals be completed to ease pressure on district and urban hospitals. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa — Minister of Health and Mass Media AI summary The Minister stated that Batticaloa Teaching Hospital is the only Central Government hospital in the district and the only teaching hospital in the Eastern Province, while other hospitals remain under the Provincial Council and would require provincial concurrence to be taken over by the Centre. He said procurement is underway to provide an MRI scanner by the end of the year, a CT scanner will also be provided, and steps are being discussed to expedite a cath lab. He added that, given constraints in specialist staffing for base hospitals, the immediate priority is to strengthen Batticaloa Teaching Hospital with the necessary specialists, staff, and equipment. Oral Question: Establishment of Rajya Osusala - Batticaloa District Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised concerns about inadequate resources in hospitals in the Batticaloa District, noting that the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital has ADB-backed approvals for a cath lab, MRI machine and CT scanner. He referred to a 2021 incident in which cath lab equipment intended for Batticaloa was allegedly diverted to Kalutara, and asked for assurances that the currently allocated cath lab, MRI and CT scanner would be provided. He also asked whether the Central Government, including through the Line Ministry, could supply necessary resources to district hospitals despite limitations in the Provincial Council system. Oral Question: Establishment of Rajya Osusala - Batticaloa District Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa — Minister of Health and Mass Media AI summary The Minister said future engagements with health officials in Batticaloa should include all relevant Members of Parliament. He stated that the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation currently operates about 65 Osusala outlets, with four opened since the new Government took office, but expansion depends on whether operating costs can be recovered because there is no separate Treasury allocation. He said an outlet would first be opened in Batticaloa town, with further expansion considered step by step, giving attention to needs in the Northern and Eastern Provinces to improve access to lower-priced medicines. Oral Question: Establishment of Rajya Osusala - Batticaloa District Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam welcomed the Minister’s response and noted that future ministerial visits to Batticaloa hospitals should include meetings with district MPs. He requested the establishment of Rajya Osusala branches in Batticaloa town, Valachchenai and Kaluwanchikudy, specifically asking whether an Osusala branch could be opened at Kaluwanchikudy Base Hospital where a building reportedly constructed for this purpose is available but unused. Oral Question: Establishment of Rajya Osusala - Batticaloa District Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa — Minister of Health and Mass Media AI summary A Rajya Osusala branch is planned to open in Batticaloa town within two months, using a Batticaloa Cooperative Society building currently being refurbished for handover to the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation. No separate Rajya Osusala building has been established at Kaluwanchikudy Base Hospital, and the Minister stated that commencement depends on the Cooperative Society handing over the premises. Oral Question: Establishment of Rajya Osusala - Batticaloa District Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan stated that the livestock sector’s contribution to GDP has declined and identified feed scarcity, particularly grazing access for indigenous cattle in the dry zone, as a key constraint. He said 20,000 acres in Mullaitivu had been agreed in principle with the Forest Department for grazing, with similar steps planned in Vavuniya and Mannar, and proposed wet-zone grazing and dry-zone feed crop cultivation for commercial dairy. He also noted inadequate staffing at 337 veterinary stations and said Service Minutes were being prepared to strengthen veterinary cadres, while emphasizing the need to raise domestic milk production from about 40% to reduce imports and improve nutrition. Private Members' Motion No. 3: Livestock Sector Enhancement Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister replied to a Standing Order 27(2) question regarding Dr. Kasthuri Jeevagan’s postings, explaining that she did not take up a temporary placement at Mannar District General Hospital due to pregnancy and maternity leave, later sought to remain at Chavakachcheri or be attached elsewhere because of a high-risk pregnancy, and has now been temporarily attached to Jaffna Teaching Hospital from 4 July 2025 on humanitarian grounds. He clarified that she is not a Board-certified specialist but has completed local paediatrics training and is awaiting foreign training. He also informed the House that a paediatric specialist has now been assigned to Mannar District General Hospital. Points of Order and Standing Order 27(2) Questions Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary The Minister said hospital upgrades, including divisional hospitals being named base hospitals, create specialist cadre requirements, but the health system currently faces a shortage of specialists. He stated that priority is being given to filling vacancies at Vavuniya and Mannar District General Hospitals, noting that most specialists at Mannar are due to go for overseas training and board-certified replacements are not yet available. Specialists will be allocated to “A” or “B” category base hospitals later, depending on the number completing training and returning. Oral Questions - First Round Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB AI summary Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran thanked the Minister for appointing an obstetrician to Cheddikulam Hospital in Vavuniya and raised concerns about continuing staffing and facility shortages in the underdeveloped rural area. He asked when a Judicial Medical Officer and In-charge Medical Officer would be appointed, and when the non-functioning operating theatre would be cleaned and handed over for use by the appointed surgeon. Oral Questions - First Round Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Approval has been granted to recruit an additional 1,990 Health Service Committee employees to address shortages in the health sector. Future recruitment will be based on hospital-level vacancies and aimed at distributing staff across the country, correcting past recruitment patterns that drew from limited localities and restricted deployment. The Minister stated that service already rendered by workers in understaffed institutions, including in the North and at Jaffna Teaching Hospital, will be considered, but appointments will still depend on age, educational and other eligibility criteria. Oral Questions - First Round Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB AI summary Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran raised a supplementary question regarding voluntary Health Service Assistants in Northern Province hospitals who received appointment letters from the Provincial Ministry of Health in 2019 but were not allowed to assume duties. He asked whether they can now be granted appointments and why the original appointments were not implemented, and tabled a copy of the relevant letter. Oral Questions - First Round Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB AI summary Asked the Minister to provide detailed information on approved staffing cadres for government regional hospitals in Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu, including required staff by post, the number and names of hospitals, and whether permanently appointed nurses are actually serving at those institutions. He further requested reasons and proposed remedies where nurses are not serving, and sought confirmation on whether Puthukudiyiruppu Regional Hospital in Mullaitivu has been upgraded to a base hospital, the date of upgrade, and its approved and current staffing by position. Oral Questions - First Round Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary Presented several 2024 annual performance reports and a Tea Board order for referral to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committees and the Committee on Public Finance. Responding to Question 953/2025, he stated that Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu have 25 regional hospitals in total, categorized as A, B or C based on OPD attendance and staffed according to approved cadre categories such as medical officers, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technologists. He provided district-wise hospital names and classifications, noting that the requested cadre information exists and that further sub-questions did not arise. Tabling of Annual Reports - Ministers Read →
- 9 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa informed Parliament that he would visit the following Monday and suggested discussing the matter concerning Jaffna Hospital during that visit. Oral Question: Velanai DS Division Post Office (Q.950/2025) Read →
- 9 July 2025 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy began to raise a second supplementary question concerning Jaffna Teaching Hospital, noting that it is the only teaching hospital in the Northern Province. The excerpt provided ends before the substantive question or proposal is stated. Oral Question: Velanai DS Division Post Office (Q.950/2025) Read →
- 9 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the 2017 PACS project for five hospitals, valued at USD 33 million, raised serious concerns about its initiation, implementation, and USD 3 million in payments. He noted that audits and Bribery Commission action are ongoing, while hospitals continue CT and MRI services through alternative image-handling methods despite the lack of a functioning PACS. He said the current procurement and contract structure prevents approval of the next payment tranche to the vendor, and that discussions and committee reviews are continuing, though accountability is difficult to determine due to the way the project was executed. Oral Question: National Hospital Kandy (Q.614/2025) Read →