13 May 2021 12:00 am Views - 117
By Yohan Perera
Whilst calling for an all-party discussion, the United National Party (UNP) yesterday called for the setting up of a special reserve to be used for a pandemic or a disaster.
UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardene told a press conference that the government should call all political party leaders for a discussion and take vital decisions such as setting up a special reserve to be used for a pandemic or a disaster. “Also the parties should discuss how funds could be generated for health facilities. Health facilities in Sri Lanka seem to be declining in the wake of the current pandemic and therefore it is time a fruitful discussion of all parties takes place, to decide how the government could generate funds,” he said
“Further the government should provide a risk allowance of at least Rs. 25,000 for frontline health workers in the state sector. The private sector has been forced to increase the salaries of doctors by Rs. 25,000 and to increase the salaries of nurses especially those in the intermediate care services by three-fold. This is because health workers are increasingly leaving the sector. If proper remuneration is not paid to the state sector health workers the same situation will happen in that sector as well,” he said.
Mr. Abeywardene also called for a proper emergency health service Bill.