Despite the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama struggling with a lack of modern medical devices and medication, a National Audit Office (NAO) report has revealed that millions in donations remain unused.

The 2023 financial statement of the National Health Development Fund showed Rs. 406,243,364 remained unused in the hospital’s donation account, with no utilisation in 2022 and 2023. 

Rs. 153,540,440 donated for a children’s ward and a thermotherapy machine between 2015 and 2019 had not been spent as intended. 

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the funds for the machine would now be used for a CT simulator.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Apeksha Hospital Director Dr. Aruna Jayasekara said that the hospital itself had not received direct funding. Instead, the donations had been allocated to the Health Ministry’s account.

Dr. Jayasekara further stated that a tender process was currently underway to procure a CT simulator using these funds. 

The tender procedure, which began last year, initially aimed to acquire equipment worth Rs. 1 billion, but procurement was unsuccessful.

As a result, the hospital decided to purchase a machine within the available budget. 

However, under this tender process, overseen by the ministry, the purchase is still pending.