All medical facilities ensured for Forces - Healthcare Minister

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and S. Marasinghe

KOTTE: Leader of the House Minister of Healthcare Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament yesterday the Government has made pre-arrangements to provide medical equipment and medicine to soldiers if there were any chemical attacks by the LTTE terrorists.

The Minister made these observations responding to a question raised by JVP MP Ranaweera Pathirana regarding moves taken by the Health Ministry to sort out the doctor's strike in the Anuradhapura Hospital.

The Minister said a trade union problem has resulted in this strike. The Health Ministry Secretary is making the arrangements to sort out this strike.

The Government has given utmost priority to develop the Anuradhapura Hospital. JAICA has granted Rs. 400 million to modernise the hospital and construct new buildings within the hospital premises. The Government has provided medical equipment and doctors to the Anuradhapura Hospital. "Certain groups are not happy about the employees who come to work on time and work according to the law. They also don't like those who look into such employees. These groups are demanding the removal of such employees.

If a proper administration is maintained within a hospital, employees cannot work against in that particular hospital. It is not justifiable," the Minister added.