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- 6 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe rejected Opposition claims that health-sector allowances had been cut, arguing that increased basic salaries would raise percentage-based allowances, take-home pay, increments, loans and pensions. He said the Budget gives priority to health with Rs. 604 billion allocated, including funding for digitalization, medicines and equipment, nutrition programmes, system strengthening and primary care expansion. He proposed a family physician-led primary care model for populations of 5,000-10,000 to reduce overcrowding in higher-level hospitals, improve management of NCDs, elderly care, palliative care, epidemic control, injury prevention and referral systems, while strengthening peripheral hospitals. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna SJB AI summary Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna urged the Government to resolve concerns over reductions in public sector and health-sector allowances, warning that such changes could worsen the outflow of doctors and disrupt patient care. He called for clarification and expedited recruitment of qualified indigenous medicine practitioners, stronger support for indigenous medicine institutions, and incentives to retain medical professionals in Sri Lanka. He also raised concerns about medicine shortages in public hospitals, including at the Cancer Hospital, and asked that procurement delays and support for local pharmaceutical manufacturers be addressed. Referring to the Mass Media portfolio, he urged action to ensure justice for past attacks on media institutions and crimes against journalists. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana suggested that land held by the Air Force near the hospital in the 6/626 area may exceed its requirements. He asked the Minister to consider allocating part of that land for the hospital’s development. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the earlier decision to use Neville Fernando Hospital instead of Kalutara District General Hospital, Nagoda, as the teaching facility for the University of Moratuwa Medical Faculty was incorrect. He said the Moratuwa Faculty’s professorial unit will begin at Kalutara Teaching Hospital by June, with wards allocated at Nagoda, while land at the Nagoda Depot site has been identified for a permanent faculty facility expected to take about three years. He also indicated plans to develop Panadura Base Hospital, Horana and other district hospitals, and requested support for these initiatives. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana requested that the Government table the names of those who recommended newly issued liquor licences in the Kalutara District, following earlier disclosures about 360 licences allegedly issued on political recommendations under the previous administration. He linked alcohol consumption to non-communicable diseases and asked for greater transparency while acknowledging the economic role of licensed outlets. He also urged attention to shortages at Neluwa Divisional Hospital and wider problems of patients being required to buy medical supplies privately at high cost. He called for a stronger preventive health programme against NCDs, including school-based exercise and sports initiatives to address diabetes, heart disease and declining physical activity. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana congratulated the Health Minister and commended his engagement with health sector unions to avert strike action, while urging a lasting and fair solution for doctors, nurses, and other staff to protect patients dependent on free public healthcare. He noted the Budget allocations of Rs. 479 billion for the Ministry of Health and Rs. 604 billion for the wider health sector, and requested action to regularize dengue control workers, particularly in Kalutara, who remain on low pay. He also appealed for special attention to developing hospitals in Kalutara District, framing it as service to constituents and the national health sector beyond party lines. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam said Sri Lanka should strengthen universal health coverage through a primary healthcare approach, noting the impact of COVID-19, the economic crisis, population ageing, and the burden of non-communicable diseases. He requested allocations, staffing, equipment, and administrative action for several Northern Province health facilities, including Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Chettikulam, Puthukudiyiruppu, and Iranai Iluppaikulam hospitals, with specific calls for dialysis machines, a CT scanner, pharmacist appointments, and expedited donor-funded projects. He also urged revival of the Lanka Siddha Ayurveda Medical College, appointments for unemployed Ayurveda/Siddha/Unani graduates, establishment of a Siddha pharmaceutical factory in the North, and staffing for drug rehabilitation centres, while welcoming the planned Osusala outlet in Vavuniya. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa said he had received a YouTube clip from Sudath Thilakasiri regarding difficulties in safely moving patients between the Cardiology Unit, OPD, and Cardiothoracic Surgery facilities, and had referred it to the Secretary. He noted that ambulances are currently being used but a permanent solution is needed without imposing burdens on patients, and said Sudath Thilakasiri’s offer of assistance would be discussed and acted upon. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana raised an urgent concern with the Minister of Health about patients at the National Hospital being moved across the main road. He requested an immediate short-term arrangement to address the safety issue while a long-term solution is developed. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Rizvie Salih - Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Rizvie Salih supported the 2025 Budget allocations for Health and Mass Media, highlighting Rs. 604 billion in total provision and measures for infrastructure, communicable disease control, NCD screening, maternal nutrition, Triposha, and Suwa Seriya. He raised concerns about urban health access, OPD delays, language barriers, poor sanitation, substance abuse, and the effects of past substandard medicine procurement, urging digitalization, stronger prevention, and safeguards against recurrence. He also noted health-sector brain drain and welcomed salary and allowance increases while commending health workers for their service and for calling off trade union action. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about doctors’ grievances relating to salary revisions, stating that while the basic salary increase is acceptable, allowances should not be reduced to fund it. He urged the Minister to restore the requested allowances and honour undertakings given to medical unions, warning that unresolved issues could lead to strikes affecting patients. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Government had substantially increased basic salaries for paramedical staff, doctors, and nurses, while noting that overtime, extra duty, and holiday payments must remain within economic limits. He also said the long-standing issue of dengue control assistants was being addressed, with Cabinet approval to recruit unqualified personnel as Multitask Development Assistants and steps under way to resolve appointments for both O/L-qualified and non-qualified workers through the Public Service Commission. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about health-sector workforce retention amid migration and vacancies, urging the Government to restore or revise reduced allowances for doctors and nurses, update approved cadres, and address issues affecting postgraduate trainees, peripheral postings, and transport permits. He called for recruitment of unemployed allied health and Ayurveda graduates, regularization of dengue control assistants, overtime for minor hospital staff, resolution of Public Health Midwife vacancies and allowances, and implementation of the Cabinet decision to extend nurses’ compulsory retirement age to 63. He also asked the Government to review provisions of the Ayurveda Amendment Act No. 19 of 2023 and address shortages and costs in indigenous medicine. He concluded by proposing that health and education be constitutionally recognized as fundamental rights and said the Opposition would support such reform. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara asked the Minister to address the position or concerns of physiotherapists in the matter under discussion. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa outlined a three-year nutrition programme addressing undernutrition and obesity, including Rs. 5,000 million for Triposha and the introduction of rice-based Triposha due to aflatoxin concerns in maize. He stated that the Government is reviving, not closing, the Triposha factory, and is addressing maize supply issues. He also proposed developing health tourism with Ayurveda and private-sector participation, including possible use of Neville Fernando Hospital, and detailed forthcoming health-sector recruitments and training across nursing, public health, technical, and support categories. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa outlined the Government’s health policy framework under “A Sustainable Life – A Healthy Nation,” linking it to Universal Health Coverage and SDG 3, and stated that the 2025 Budget provides Rs. 604 billion for the overall health sector, including provincial services. He identified five priorities: strengthening primary healthcare, upgrading hospitals, ensuring uninterrupted quality medicines, addressing health workforce issues, and developing health tourism. He emphasized the burden of non-communicable diseases and population ageing, and announced plans to upgrade 1,031 primary facilities, allocate Rs. 12.1 billion for primary healthcare development, pursue a new US$100 million World Bank project for 1,000 primary care centres, and seek donor land for community-level facilities. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana highlighted the continuous nature of work by doctors, nurses and health officials and argued that the effective health allocation had fallen to 1.8 percent after adjustments, despite a stated 3 percent policy commitment. He placed data on non-communicable disease mortality and patient facilities in the Library, asked the Minister to investigate footage of National Hospital patients being moved along the main road, and welcomed the removal of VAT on packaging for local pharmaceutical production. He also raised concern that about 200 of 550 medicines were in short supply due to tender and letter-of-credit delays, citing labetalol, salbutamol respiratory solution, human albumin and coagulation factors, and called for attention to health education. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana moved the customary token cut during the Committee Stage debate on the 2025 Appropriation Bill and acknowledged allocations for health digitization, primary care, epidemic preparedness, mental health, nutrition for pregnant mothers, medicines, and the Suwaseriya ambulance service. He urged increased medicine funding and highlighted staffing pressures, long working hours, limited extra duty payments, and the need to motivate doctors, nurses and allied health professionals amid brain drain concerns. He requested that about Rs. 6 billion be provided, even in phases, for health sector extra duty payments, citing past salary and allowance arrangements and contrasting the amount with other large public expenditures. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam highlighted the severity of drug use in the post-war Northern and Eastern Provinces and called for strict enforcement of national laws, including alcohol age limits, regulation of liquor outlets, control of public drinking, and effective use of police powers against illicit liquor production. He noted that the Northern Provincial Administration has established medical rehabilitation centres in all five districts and urged the Minister of Health to provide staff and make them operational promptly. Adjournment Motion: Jaffna - Social Impact of Drug Addiction Among Youth Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah supported the Motion on drug control, stating that drug distribution in the North, particularly after 2009 and the opening of the A-9 road, has severely affected youth and higher education students in Jaffna. He said the issue is also straining the health sector through rehabilitation and treatment costs, and called for action to identify and stop distributors. He urged the establishment of a rehabilitation centre in Jaffna District with vocational training and employment support, alongside village-level monitoring and coordinated action by the armed forces, Police and judiciary to prevent distribution and relapse. Adjournment Motion: Jaffna - Social Impact of Drug Addiction Among Youth Read →