brand logo

Paid treatment at  Govt. hospitals a  ploy to privatise?

31 Oct 2022

  • Nurses threaten to launch ‘massive protest’
  • Keheliya says paid services will provide alternative to private hospitals
By Buddhika Samaraweera Claiming that the Government is preparing to privatise the free healthcare service that should be expanded amidst the prevailing economic crisis, the All-Ceylon Nurses’ Union (ACNU) stated that it will engage in a massive struggle to defeat any such move. Speaking to The Morning, ACNU President S.B. Mediwatthe said: “We saw Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella saying that there are plans to implement a programme to provide paid treatment in selected hospitals. Hearing that statement, we feel that the Government is planning to privatise the free healthcare service. The Government is preparing the foundation to privatise the health service through this programme. It is very clear that it is not going to be launched for the welfare of the people.” He said that due to the current economic crisis, the number of patients seeking treatment from Government hospitals has increased greatly as even people who previously received treatment from private hospitals are now unable to pay for such. Therefore, instead of providing the facilities for the people to receive treatment by paying money, he said that the Government should take steps to expand the free health service. “There are private hospitals all over the country where those who are able to pay for treatment can obtain those facilities. We have no objection regarding the private sector. Also, there are some Government hospitals where people can pay and receive treatment. We have no problem running them. However, we will not allow this kind of gradual privatisation of other Government hospitals. We will launch a massive struggle with other trade unions against any such preparation.” added Mediwatthe. In response to a query from the media as to whether there is any preparation to charge a fee for providing treatment in Government hospitals last week, Rambukwella said: “A payment section of 25-30% will be implemented in a few selected hospitals. The reason for that is that the people have to bear a huge expense to obtain services from the private sector. However, a better and efficient service can be provided to those who have the ability to pay for a little less than that. Those who do not have much money will be able to obtain services with some relief.” Sri Lanka has a healthcare system that extends free healthcare to all citizens, which has been a national priority for decades. These services are provided to the people through inpatient and outpatient departments (OPDs) at hospitals islandwide, which are categorised into District Hospitals, Base Hospitals, District General Hospitals, Provincial General Hospitals, Teaching Hospitals, and General Hospitals.


More News..