Call for streamlining health sector donations SJB fears whether Health Minister targets Sajith Premadasa’s Husma programme

By Yohan Perera   

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday questioned whether the recent remark made by Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa that donations to health sector has to be streamlined with the government’s national plan was targeted at ‘Husma’ programme which is being carried out by its leader Sajith Premadasa since 2020.   

“Minister might have targeted the ‘Husma’ programme which was started by our leader during the COVID 19 pandemic. This programme was started following the request made by the then government,” SJB MP J. A Alawathuwala told a media briefing.   

“Donations made to hospitals such as the assistance given by Basnayaka Nilame and others to cancer hospital should have been appreciated instead of criticising it. Donating a bone marrow transplant surgery to the Cancer Hospital Maharagama is most welcome as it will be a great help for the Thalassemia patients. These patients have to spend millions if they are to go abroad for surgery. Therefore these acts should be appreciated,” he added.   
Dr. Jayatissa recently said that future donations for the health sector will have to align with the government’s national plan.   

He said the government’s plan is to streamline donations received from various local philanthropists and foreign companies to ensure that they are made use of effectively. .   

“We intend to systematically use the donations. Going forward, donations will not be accepted for political or personal needs. Even though donations are made with good intentions, it becomes a burden for the government after a few years,” the Minister said.   

The Health Minister said donations will be accepted only by taking into consideration their alignment with the government’s policies and purpose for the next 20 years.   

“As we see now, buildings have been built using donations in some places. Then protests are held if they don’t have sufficient doctors and equipment. Politicians will have dreams to improve their area hospitals to the standards of a general hospital,” he said.   

Minister Jayatissa said, however, going forward, such donations will only be allowed after considering how well they fit the government’s National Policy.   

He pointed out that the Health Ministry was an entity that receives funds as and when requested by any government and that the Treasury allocates large sums of money regularly.   

Minister Jayatissa said, such donations will only be allowed after considering how well they fit the government’s National Policy in the future.   

He stressed that the Health Ministry was an entity that receives funds as and when requested by any government. He said the Treasury allocates large sums of money regularly. 

 
Also, the Health Minister said that the highest allocation for the Health Ministry in the history of Sri Lanka has been made in the budget for this year.