Nagollagama Rural Hospital lacks basic needs

Kurunegala North group corr.

The patients and the hospital staff of the Kurunegala Nagollagama Rural Hospital serving nearly 30,000 families in more than ten villages are at present facing a perilous situation due to an inadequate supply of electricity and a deficiency in resources.

According to available information it is revealed that the Hospital which was upgraded to a Rural Hospital in 2003 was supposed to have three - phase electricity, the wincing which was done at the Hospital is only for single-phase current. Since the consumption of electricity is high after six in the evening the Hospital does not receive sufficient power to carry out its work.

It is said, there were three-phase lines just 500 metres away from the Hospital, even after numerous complaints had been made to the relevant authorities, they have only responded with promises, but no action has been taken to rectify the situation.

A patient in the Hospital told the media that when there is a power failure it takes so many hours to the power supply to return to normal and since is an extremely rural area more often than not power returns only the next morning. He also said that everyday after 6.00 p.m. or when there is a power failure the nebulizer machine used in treating asthma patients does not function.

Information also reveals that the Hospital lacks sufficient staff to carry out the necessary duties. The media understood that this is the only hospital without nurses to serve the patients.

Drugs received from the Central Government is less than a half of the amount needed to treat the patients. Since there is a shortage in allocation of essential drugs the patients inevitably undergo severe hardships and inconveniences.

It is also revealed that the Hospital buys most of the urgent essential drugs with the money collected from the Hospital Committee members and from the welfare societies in the area.

Patients from Nagollagama, Katuwannawa, Thalagalle, palugaswewa, Kithulharagama, Thimbiriwewa, Katupitigama, Kukulawela, Ambaleygoda and Heytiwewa have only this hospital and it is a hard task under the conditions prevailing in the Hospital.

It is understood that according to health sector the allocations by the Central Government does not even reach 50 per cent of the amount required. In the year 2004 the estimated amount for Kurunegala District as health allowance was Rs. 225 million.

The Central Government has only granted Rs. 81 million out of the allocated sum of Rs. 125 million.

Therefore, all the hospitals in the region including rural hospitals face severe difficulties when treating patients.