Patriotic doctors stay and serve -Minister De Silva

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

There are a large number of patriotic doctors who stay in Sri Lanka and serve the Sri Lankan public while some other doctors stay away from the country. I wish to thank all those patriotic doctors. I have only one thing to tell to the trade unions which criticize the state health sector. That is 'come and see for yourself', Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

Addressing the gathering after opening the newly built Eye Surgery unit and the ICU at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Borella built at a cost of Rs. 160 million Minister De Silva said that if the trade unionists have a good eye sight they can very clearly see the facilities provided by the Government to the State hospitals spending billions of rupees. No country provides this type of facilities free of charge.

According to the Minister there are around 2,500 infants born in Sri Lanka annually with heart diseases and they need heart surgeries. Such a surgery cost them Rs.0.5 million to 2 million in the private sector but the state hospitals perform the same operation free of charge and the Government spends Rs.0.5 million on one such operation. Annually 2,500 new child patients add to the waiting list and at the moment there are 1,700 such patients in the waiting list. The state hospitals will be able to cater to all these patients. The Government is providing all facilities to usher a prosperous future to children and to achieve wisdom to look at life from a proper perspective.