- Muralitharan Kasi Viswanathan
- BBC Tamil, from Sri Lanka
Image source, Getty Images
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has severely affected the country’s public health sector. State doctors have warned that the country could face a worsening public health crisis in two more weeks if the state’s attention does not turn in this direction.
In late April, Peradeniya Hospital in the Central Province announced that surgery would have to be postponed due to a shortage of medicines. With about 24 lakh people in the province relying on the hospital for treatment, the announcement came as a shock to many.
But, not only in Peradeniya hospital, but also in all the hospitals soon, the state doctors said. They have written a letter to the government in this regard and have been holding sporadic protests.
Not only government doctors but also other staff in the medical field point out the seriousness of the problem. Nurses say there is also a shortage of spirit to wash wounds.
Speaking to the BBC, the medical staff raised various issues.
“Many patients are inconvenienced by the shortage. Some patients are unable to feed on the basis of their illness. Sugar, palm oil and tea are not available. Due to shortage of diesel, ambulances are not able to arrive on time. Tests are not done properly. We have shortage of necessary equipment and tools. People with diabetes do not have the medicine they need, and why, they do not even have the surgical spirit to wash their wounds. ” Says Yamuna Krishanthi, a nurse working at the government hospital.
A hospital staffer says there is currently no environment to perform tests such as scans.
“The current state of health in the country is a major crisis, especially due to the lack of facilities for X-ray and CT scans. We have already informed the health department that there is a shortage. The ministers replied indifferently that there was a shortage of supplies and now there was a shortage.
X-ray, CD They say they will come another day to take things like scans. Similarly, it is not possible to give the right type of food for the patients to be given. Usually we feed a patient what he understands about the disease. Now we give everyone the same meal. Thus, the disease may increase. Poor people come to government hospitals for treatment. Does not come to die. In the current situation, those who come to buy medicine, are in a position to buy a death certificate. We look forward to seeing you there, “said RAD Sumit Hewanda, a hospital store keeper.
Ravi Kumudesh, leader of the Sri Lanka Health Trade Union, points out that another important problem has arisen.
“Sri Lanka is now in a great medical crisis. Frequent power outages have made it difficult for small hospitals to perform surgeries.
Failure to give the treatment in a timely manner has resulted in the patient dying to be saved. Because there are no drugs like Tenactaplace to give for a heart attack, treatment is given without that drug at all. Thus, even surviving patients die. X-ray, CD There has been a problem with the maintenance of tools such as scans. There is a need for spare parts in many places, ”says Ravi Kumudesh.
According to the Government Medical Officers’ Association, there is a shortage of 5 life-saving medicines and 180 essential medicines provided in government hospitals. The association has demanded that the general public be informed of the shortage in the medical sector across the country and that a state of medical crisis be declared.
Image source, Getty Images
“Our association has more than one hundred and thirty branch associations. According to the information received from these associations, there is a severe shortage of essential medicines.
So we wrote a letter again. Set up a team of technical experts with expertise to find a solution to the current problem. We have also said that the help of the people of the country and the help of the international people should be sought. But there was no answer to that either. Therefore, we publicly request assistance from Sri Lankans in the Diaspora and Sri Lankan doctors. We have asked for your help in purchasing medicine and equipment. The medical structure can be rebuilt if these aids are available.
But the state of health crisis must be officially declared. Only then will other countries and organizations come forward to help, ”said Dr. Wasan Ratnasingam of the State Medical Officers Association.
Private hospitals are not currently facing a major crisis as they have to buy additional drugs. But it is not possible for all ordinary people to get medical treatment in private hospitals.
“Assuming this situation, we have been buying medicine for three months only last month. So we can afford it for another month and a half. But we have to pay more for the medicine. Besides, it will be a big problem as not all people can come to the private hospital as medical insurance is not widely available.” Dr. Thiyagaraja is the Chief Executive Officer of Melsta Medical Group, one of the largest medical boards in Sri Lanka.
These problems aside, pharmacies are also facing problems due to power outages and diesel shortages. Refrigerated drugs may lose their effectiveness due to resistance.
At the height of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the Price Control Board of the National Commodities Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has approved a 29 percent increase in the price of medicines across the country.
Attempts by the Sri Lankan government to get feedback on what the government is going to do to address this problem have not been fruitful.
Sri Lanka has the strongest public health infrastructure in South Asia. However, the current economic crisis poses a threat to this structure.
BBC Tamil on social media: