Govt. health sector has hit a new low – Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda

The government health sector has plunged into a new low – a chaotic administrative situation not seen in Sri Lanka for the past five decades, says Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda, President of the Public Service United Nurses’ Union (PSUNU).

“I have been closely associating with Health Ministers, Secretaries and Directors-General since 1966, but never come across a pathetic situation, where the whole sector has lost its sense of direction with the administrative process in a knotty mess”, he said.

The prelate said that senior health officials are summoned by the Secretary to the Health Ministry every morning to discuss the possibility of finding 200 extra beds for corona infected patients, procuring face masks and personal protective equipment, which is the job of junior level officers.

When Sri Lanka has 78,000 hospital beds, is finding 200 additional beds a grave issue? Does it warrant a one and a half hour discussion with the top administrative structure of the ministry to do this?, he asked. “Even a junior administrative clerk can handle the job”.

He said that during the discussion, senior health officials are not allowed to express their views. They have to listen to the monologue and return to their offices.

“Do we need a Health Secretary to dwell on mundane issues at a time the country is facing the biggest health crisis in its history?”, the Chief Incumbent of the Abhayarama further queried.

It’s time to put the house in order to save the nation from the ravaging coronavirus pandemic, he stressed.