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- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera raised concerns about the recent emigration of doctors and specialists, noting that many more qualified doctors remain in Sri Lanka after passing migration-related exams. He asked what measures are being taken to retain medical professionals and address staffing shortages in the health system, citing a shortage of about 665 nurses at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya despite some nurses having completed training. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB AI summary Minister Nalinda Jayathissa stated that health professionals have gone abroad for employment, education and other reasons, but said continuous recruitment, training and human resource management are being used to maintain services and fill vacancies. He noted that doctors’ retirement age has been extended to 63, and that detailed cadre data on current staff, future needs, pre-retirement departures and those in training had been tabled in an annex. He outlined measures including deploying returning specialists, recruiting medical officers after house officer training, recruiting the 2019 nursing intake in early 2025, filling supplementary and paramedical posts, and proceeding with approved minor and junior grade recruitments, while acknowledging deployment challenges from past recruitment patterns. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB AI summary The Minister of Health and Mass Media stated that he was providing the answer to a question before the House. No substantive policy details, proposals, or issues were included in the provided excerpt. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media whether the economic crisis had caused doctors and other trained health professionals to leave Sri Lanka, negatively affecting the health service. He requested detailed category-wise figures on current staff, future staffing requirements, premature departures from 2022 to November 2024, and personnel currently in training, including specialist training. He also asked what steps the Ministry would take to recruit the needed professionals expeditiously, or the reasons if no action is planned. Oral Questions Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa said Sri Lanka Thriposha Ltd. is being revived as a nationally important institution and confirmed that production of Thriposha, Suposha and Calorie Bar continues at normal levels. He detailed the target beneficiaries for free Thriposha distribution, including pregnant and lactating mothers and malnourished children, and noted that maize and soya supply and quality constraints have affected production. He said the company is profit-making, with Rs. 555 million post-tax profit in 2023, and outlined plans with the Agriculture Ministry to support farmers through buy-back arrangements while also testing rice-based alternatives with FAO support. He stated that the Government intends to maintain free nutritional products for target groups and expand commercial products while ensuring nutritional standards. Adjournment and Adjournment Questions Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media about the operations of Sri Lanka Thriposha Ltd., noting its role in addressing malnutrition and supporting employment. He sought details on its products and target groups, the current production status, difficulties in sourcing local raw materials and inter-ministerial responses, and the Government’s plans to restore the institution to support nutrition for children and pregnant mothers. Adjournment and Adjournment Questions Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda supported the continuation of food-related regulations and orders prepared by the previous Government where they serve public welfare. She highlighted concerns over food safety, including genetically modified foods, chemical additives, expired products, Thriposha ingredients, milk powder and coconut oil, and linked these to malnutrition, non-communicable diseases, and Sri Lanka’s low rankings in food security and healthcare indices. She said the Government’s “Clean Sri Lanka” objective includes ensuring citizens’ access to toxin-free, quality food through stronger standards for production, imports, distribution and retail. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan contrasted Sri Lanka’s post-independence economic standing with its current difficulties, while expressing support for the Government’s “Clean Sri Lanka” programme. He called for action over an alleged assault of a woman at the Periya Neelavanai Police Station after she attempted to lodge a complaint, and urged accountability for the officers involved. He also requested the Health Minister to regularize and improve the pay of Field Mosquito Control Assistants, address long-serving temporary Road Development Authority staff, and fill pending paramedical appointments in shortage areas such as Batticaloa. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. G. G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary G. G. Ponnambalam raised several issues outside the day’s main topic, urging appointments to the Health Ministry’s Dispenser Service following 2024 interviews, measures to prevent transfers out of the Northern Province, and action to hold overdue Efficiency Bar examinations or grant increments to affected Grade I dispensers. He also called for the restoration of Colombo–Jaffna train services reduced after track repair works, including services from Mount Lavinia via Wellawatte and Bambalapitiya. He further urged the Foreign Minister to secure the repatriation of Sri Lankan citizens reportedly forced into service with the Russian Army. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath raised several development and service delivery issues in Batticaloa District, including the need for more elephant fencing, wildlife stations and officers to address the human-elephant conflict. He requested health infrastructure for Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, including MRI and CT scanners, a cath lab, brachytherapy facilities, an Osusala, and possible future land for hospital expansion through relocation of the prison. He also urged action on the delayed Kithul–Rugam Reservoir Project, early Government paddy purchases at the guaranteed price, cleaning of Batticaloa Lagoon and improved drainage, and establishment of a Faculty of Law at Eastern University. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Read →
- 7 January 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva questioned how the Government can use forecasting models based on past policy when it has described previous economic policy as destructive, and asked for a clear new work programme to sustain growth and achieve the stated USD 120 billion GDP target by 2030. He challenged the Government’s tax policy changes, noting that promises to raise the personal tax-free threshold to Rs. 2.4 million had been revised and that the increase in withholding tax from 5 per cent to 10 per cent was not in the policy statement. He argued that abolishing tax files could weaken collection from secondary incomes, and referred to his party’s proposals on modest income tax, refund interest, and VAT banding. He also called for the Budget to reflect Government promises to zero-rate VAT on school supplies, food, baby formula, pharmaceuticals and other essential items. Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report Read →
- 7 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB AI summary Companies responsible for importing substandard medicines have been identified, and an internal investigation is under way into the importation process. Following a committee report on 66 patients who lost vision after cataract surgery at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital, the Cabinet decided to provide government compensation to the affected patients and to pursue legal action against those responsible for importing the medicine. Oral Question: Government and Private Hospitals Shortage of Medicines and Equipment (Q.238/2024) Read →
- 7 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera raised a supplementary question on reported blindness and deaths linked to medicines used at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital and the National Eye Hospital. He urged that institutions and importers responsible for the problematic medicine imports be blacklisted, penalized, and made to reimburse the State, seeking government intervention to prevent recurrence. Oral Question: Government and Private Hospitals Shortage of Medicines and Equipment (Q.238/2024) Read →
- 7 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera raised concerns about past shortcomings in the procurement of medicines and the need for stronger controls within the Ministry of Health. He asked whether the Ministry would conduct a comprehensive review of cancelled tenders, incomplete procurement processes, and medicine imports, and present a report to Parliament on the resulting financial loss to the country and the impact on the public. Oral Question: Government and Private Hospitals Shortage of Medicines and Equipment (Q.238/2024) Read →
- 7 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB AI summary The Minister stated that a small number of medical and surgical supplies experience intermittent shortages, noting that supply levels are monitored daily through the “Swasta” IT system rather than through period-based reports. He said the Drug Review Committee continuously reviews procurement and distribution, with planning under way for the 2025 procurement cycle, and acknowledged that uninterrupted supply cannot always be guaranteed due to factors such as global raw material shortages and equipment breakdowns. He added that institutions are authorized to make local purchases during medicine shortages and to obtain private-sector services when tests cannot be performed because of equipment failures. Oral Question: Government and Private Hospitals Shortage of Medicines and Equipment (Q.238/2024) Read →
- 7 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media whether the Government is aware of shortages of medicines, surgical and medical equipment, laboratory testing tools, and radioactive examination equipment in public and private hospitals. He requested details of any current availability and shortage reports, plans to ensure uninterrupted supply until the end of 2025, possible future shortages, and procurement or risk-mitigation measures. Oral Question: Government and Private Hospitals Shortage of Medicines and Equipment (Q.238/2024) Read →
- 7 January 2025 Government and Private Hospitals: Shortage of Medicines and Equipment AI summary A question was raised regarding shortages of medicines and medical equipment in government and private hospitals under Question for Oral Answer No. 238/2024. The matter sought clarification on the current availability of essential supplies and any measures being taken to address shortages affecting healthcare services. Oral Question: Government and Private Hospitals Shortage of Medicines and Equipment (Q.238/2024) Read →
- 7 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa stated that the National Medicines Regulatory Authority’s existing laboratory capacity is inadequate for the country’s pharmaceutical quality-testing needs. He said the Government plans to establish a WHO-standard, high-capacity medicines testing laboratory within three years, with a roadmap, plans, and a site already identified, using government funds to address broader issues in the pharmaceutical sector. Oral Question: Software System for Management of Medicine Stocks (Q.236/2024) Read →
- 7 January 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra asked the Minister whether, in light of recent crises over medicine quality testing, the Ministry has taken measures to improve the quality testing process. She requested details on any steps implemented to address those issues. Oral Question: Software System for Management of Medicine Stocks (Q.236/2024) Read →
- 7 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa said coordination among the NMRA, Medical Supplies Division, SPC, and SPMC is central to improving the medicines supply process. He noted past problems at the NMRA, including a failed technical system, fraud, and a backlog of 2,100 files, of which about 1,200 had been cleared, leaving around 900 pending as of 31 May. He stated that from January, the Government would streamline registration and renewal processes over three months while maintaining due diligence, with the aim of clearing the backlog by March and further expediting work through increased staffing. Oral Question: Software System for Management of Medicine Stocks (Q.236/2024) Read →