The lifesaving, 24/7 functioning, Suwa Seriya ambulance service established in 2018 is once again under the spotlight, struggling to sustain the critical service it offers the nation. The fact that this matter has not been taken up by the Government more diligently highlights the poor track record of prioritisation the Government has on many topics. 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe recently announced the allocation of Rs 1 billion for next year (2025) to research on the relationship between Buddha’s teachings and Artificial Intelligence (AI). While the growth of AI is an important technological phenomenon which will likely be useful for Sri Lanka’s future economic growth, allocating funds for such theological studies, while critical services like Suwa Seriya ambulance service struggles to sustain their fleet and provide a decent wage for their Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), highlights the gulf in the realities, local lawmakers and the public live in.

The ambulance service, with its average response time of 15:32 minutes, has saved the lives of many Sri Lankans. According to the World Bank, the response speed of the Suwa Seriya service counts in a nation where 34% of public deaths are from coronary heart disease, where the window to save a life is short. Nearly 63% of Suwa Seriya’s emergency calls are from rural residents, a demographic who often rely on three-wheelers to transport patients to hospital, which can often lead to more complications due to the ride quality and lack of EMT care. The fact is that the service has also improved healthcare access in hard-to-reach rural areas, ensuring equitable access of emergency services to vulnerable citizens, and reducing overall morbidity and mortality in the country.

With an ambulance fleet of around 320 in service, catering to a population of 22 million, it is understandable that the fleet and its operations are strained on the best of days. However, with the economic standing of many in the island has reduced below the poverty line, with medicine and quality nutrition moved out of reach of most, the public’s reliance on services like Suwa Seriya have increased. 

However, the opposition leader yesterday (14) told the Parliament that 56 out of 322 ambulances were currently out of service. The opposition leader also highlighted that a significant number of Suwa Seriya ambulance drivers and EMTs have departed the country seeking greener pastures, like many other Sri Lankans over the last two years. Retention of trained and skilled professionals has been a serious issue for the Sri Lankan health sector and other services and industries as well. A number of foreign countries have been seeking qualified and experienced EMT professionals to fill the vacancies in their respective national services. Many Suwa Seriya EMTs have migrated. It is learnt that the EMT’s only get paid a basic wage around Rs 35,000 – 40,000. Considering the critical service they offer, round the clock, surely they should be paid more. It is also important to note that in the state-run health sector, there are no EMT’s. It is also learnt that drivers of the ambulances earn similar or lesser wages per month. The pay for the EMTs and drivers are provided by the Government.

The rapid loss of skilled personnel has reportedly lead to prolonged periods required for training replacements. And here again, there is another challenge additionally, only a limited number of individuals have shown interest in joining the Suwa Seriya service, given the low basic wage which is offered. Why the Government, who managed to give some public officials a pay raise and seems to have funds for non-critical projects researching AI and its relation to religion, unable to offer a better pay for a group of Sri Lakna’s who work around the clock to save lives, is unacceptable. Shame.  

The Sunday Morning and The Daily Morning has reported over the last two years about the service struggling to sustain operations, due to lack of serviceability, spare parts, fuel and tires during the 2022-2023 period. However, today it is learnt that while sourcing fuel is not an issue, there are challenges in getting the fleet services. Apparently, there is a shortage of mechanics trained on the particular type of vehicle, which is also causing delays in servicing the fleet.  A recent push to get private sector assistance through ‘adopt an ambulance’ programme has reportedly raised millions of rupees to help keep the ambulance fleet fuelled and repaired. Surely the Government at least matches the contribution made by the private sector and wellwishers, and offers an allowance or salary increment to the hard working drivers, dispatch team and EMTs of Suwa Seriya ambulance service. A priority service that saves lives, needs to be given priority.