Adjournment Motion

Minister slams local bodies for spread of dengue

Irangika RANGE

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament yesterday that dengue has spread widely due to Municipal Councils and Urban Councils neglecting their responsibilities of disposing garbage.

Responding to the adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, the Minister said that local government authorities should be responsible to clean the environment by disposing garbage since main cities are always full of garbage.

We have identified 65 Pradeshiya Sabha divisions to be entrusted with implementing dengue combat programs following the appointment of a Presidential Task Force to control dengue. It is also the responsibility of residents to clean up the surroundings of their homes to avoid the mosquito breeding,” he said.

The Government has released Rs. 67 billion to overcome the shortcomings in the health sector. We spent nearly Rs. one billion to import medicines each month.

He further said the drug shortage in State hospitals has already been solved 90 percent and it will be totally overcome shortly.

The malnutrition and anemia are expected to be eased with the implementation of the nutrition policy which will upgrade the nutrition levels of the nation.

Moving the adjournment motion, UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardene said that the health sector is in a crisis due to poor administration of the Government. He said the present Health Minister has lots of responsibilities to alleviate crisis in the health sector. There was a lack of co-ordination among the statuary bodies coming under the Ministry purview and this was the result for the shortage of medicines in Government hospitals.

Joining the debate, DNA Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the expected healthy society cannot be built without providing solutions to the problems prevailed in the health sector. There is a shortage of drugs, sufficient doctors and nurses which had badly affected the health service. The Government should take steps to prevent corruption, malpractice and waste rooted in the sector.

UNP MP Sajith Premadasa said the Government should act to eliminate malnutrition. There should be a proper system to monitor disease spreading and prevention in the society.

Health Deputy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said many remedial action have been taken to solve the problems that prevails in the health sector by holding discussions with the trade unions. “We are now exploring possibilities to manufacture medicine in the country to meet the local demand.

The Health Minister has already taken disciplinary action against the responsible persons who were involved in importing low quality drugs.

UPFA MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said that malnutrition is very low in Sri Lanka compared to the other countries. “We have taken steps to mitigate the malnutrition and anemia,” she said.

UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said the Government should follow an accurate policy to import drugs. It is reported that several drugs imported to the country had been destroyed due to its low quality.

UPFA MP Niranjan Wickramasinghe said that the nutrition level in Sri Lanka is high compared to the other Asian countries. No one can deny this since facts and figures are available.

UNP MP Ajith Perera said that the health facilities should be upgraded to benefit the people. We have to pay attention to prevent mental illnesses and suicides which have indicated to be on the increase.

UPFA MP Wasantha Senanayake said that the Government is considering to develop each sector for the benefit of the ordinary masses. Though there is a drug shortage, the Health Minister took steps to overcome it.

UNP MP Harin Fernando said that there are lots of shortcomings in the health sector. Still there is a shortage of 365 drugs in State hospitals.

UPFA MP Rohana Pushpakumara said that the Government is committed largely to uplift the health service. A number of diseases were combated due to State efforts to develop the health service at rural level.

UNP MP Ashoka Abeysinghe said there is a drug shortage that still prevails in Government hospitals. Without formulating a proper national health policy, this problem cannot be solved.

Theology and Research Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayaka said there are many specialist doctors and most of them are employed by the Government in remote areas.

UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said there is a saline shortage prevailing in Government hospitals. The Government should solve this problem.

UPFA MP Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said that Sri Lanka maintains a satisfied health sector compared to India, Pakistan and Bhutan.

Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that criticisms should not be made to obtain narrow political advantage.

Though there is nothing wrong in the injection, the death can occur as a result of the allergy situation. This situation should be analyzed through proper investigation and not by dealing with it on the surface.

Though specialized doctors are employed by the Government in remote areas, they do not remain since they receive big offers from foreign countries. We should have a proper system to keep them in the country.