Health Ministry eyes larger budgetary allocation

Nadira Gunatilleke

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena is holding discussions with Finance Ministry Secretary Dr P B Jayasundara to increase the Health budget by Rs six billion in 2011, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman the National health budget for this year is Rs 74 billion and it is expected to increase this amount up to Rs 80 billion by 2011.

The increase is required to meet the rising costs of maintenance of vehicles, advance medical equipment, building complexes and other facilities. Minister Sirisena will continue discussions and will also consult President Mahinda Rajapaksa in this regard. Out of Rs.74 billion, the Ministry spends Rs.54 billion for the payment of salaries in the health sector. Another Rs 14 billion is spent on drugs purchases. Only Rs six million is left for all other expenses including maintenance and repairs of medical equipment, he said.

Drugs cost between Rs 80,000 and Rs 350,000 use for the treatment off cancer patients by Maharagama Cancer Hospital and other state hospitals and there are over 20,000 cancer patients in the country. The Health Ministry spends Rs 3,500 billion per year to treat kidney patients and there are around 30,000 kidney patients in the country, he added.