• Keheliya claims matter resolved, blames Hospital Director for not informing MSD

Cesarean surgeries at the Kalutara Teaching Hospital have been halted due to the lack of an anaesthetic drug required for the same, Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa claimed yesterday (20).

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Premadasa questioned whether the reason for the lack of this medicine was due to a lack of money or the inefficiency of the Government. He said that instead of waiting for mothers and children to die in this situation, the Government should reveal the actual situation to the country and provide fruitful solutions for issues in the health sector. He also said that he requested the Government to provide the necessary facilities for cesarean section surgeries at the said hospital.

Responding to Premadasa, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that this situation has occurred due to the shortage of a drug called “bupivacaine hydrochloride”, adding, however, that presently, all measures have been taken to supply the said medicine to the Kalutara Teaching Hospital. He said that the Director of the hospital had sent an internal memo about the shortage of this particular drug instead of informing this matter to the Medical Supplies Division (MSD).

Meanwhile, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-led National People’s Power Leader and Opposition Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake claimed that Rambukwella lacked the proper knowledge regarding the health sector since he is incapable of performing the duties of his ministerial portfolio. “The health system has collapsed today. There are no medicines in the hospitals. The Health Minister says that it is a normal situation. It appears that he has no feeling about it. The Government also has no feeling about this. The Minister does not seem to be dealing with the health sector with any understanding,” he alleged.

Former Health Minister and incumbent SJB MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne alleged that cesarean surgeries have been stopped not only at the Kalutara Teaching Hospital but also in many hospitals on the island. “This is the situation of the entire country. Cesarean surgeries are not being performed in many parts of the country today. We got rid of the malaria epidemic. Malaria has come back today. The elephantiasis disease has returned. The measles disease has come again. The health system has completely collapsed. When I ask the Treasury, they say that there is no problem with money. If this is not looked into, the MPs will not be able to go to their constituencies. Health means the people’s lives. Take strict measures now,” he observed.

In response to Opposition MPs’ queries, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies has given priority to resolving the issues in the health sector at present and that all necessary funds are being allocated to the health sector as per the instruction of President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Finance Minister. He said that the funds needed to purchase medicines would be given to the Ministry of Health without further delay. 

Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandraguptha and the Director of the Kalutara Teaching Hospital were not reachable for comment.