Hospital has resources in level with grade

Stanley Seneviratne Kurunegala North group corr.

Due to the deteriorated state of the Yatawatta Government hospital, the residents of several villages who seek treatment are facing great hardships.

The residents of the area point out that more than 6,000 patients obtain treatment at the OPD and the clinics of the hospital every month, which is short of staff and physical resources.

A member of the Hospital Development Committee said that the hospital is facing a shortage of drinking water during the drought when the old garden well and the tube well are totally dried.

He said that the doctors' quarters is in a state of disrepair for want of funds. A 60 year old mortuary is in a dilapidated state and no longer used. The employees in the hospital stressed the need to appoint a pharmacist and labourers to ensure the smooth functioning of the clinics.

However, the Medical Officer in charge Dr. Amunugama said that the Department has provided adequate resources in keeping with the grade of the hospital.

He told the media that he has requested the Department to appoint a pharmacist to function on clinic days to overcome the inconveniences of the patients.

When contacted the Ex-Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Central Province Champika S. Wijeratna said "we established a fully fledged base hospital at Matale which is approximately 10 miles off Yatawatta and have provided ambulances and adequate staff to rush patients to Matale hospital in case of emergency.