Economic meltdown, healthcare crisis and corruption - EDITORIAL

The worst days of the economic meltdown are now behind us. The miles-long fuel queues at petrol sheds are, but a distant memory. The petrol, diesel and kerosene shortage however are still with us, with only limited volume of fuel being made available to vehicle owners and householders at double the cost.

LP gas cylinders too are also now available, albeit at a much higher cost. Many families though, are forced to use firewood as cooking fuel. They can ill afford the cost of an extra cylinder. Like fuel, LP gas too is available in limited quantities. 

The cost of living (essential foods) is way beyond the reach of a majority of families in the country. Ministry of Health reports reveal a staggering 42.9% of the children under the age of 5 are suffering from some kind of malnutrition. The UNICEF report of October 30, 2022 estimates amid rising inflation, food insecurity and poverty, an estimated 6.2 million people face moderately acute food insecurity.

 Given these circumstances, unsurprisingly the county’s health care system - once famous the world over - is now in danger of collapse. In 2015, Sri Lanka had the lowest maternal mortality rate in the South Asian region, with 30 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 173 in Bangladesh, 113 in India, 53 in the Maldives, 186 in Nepal, and 140 in Pakistan.

Lanka also successfully eliminated several infectious diseases, including poliomyelitis, malaria, and measles. Significant progress was made in the areas of neonatal, infant, under-5, and maternal mortality. Life expectancy at birth has steadily increased for both sexes, and women now live 6.7 years longer than men. 
The country is left wondering whether this will soon become something of ‘our glorious past’. 

Reuters reported on May 23 that doctors, health workers and patients at ‘Apeksha Hospital’ - Sri Lanka’s premier cancer treatment centre - saying the situation was becoming desperate with doctors forced to suspend tests and postpone important medical procedures, including critical surgeries.

Doctors and health workers across the country are warning of severe shortages of vital drugs, vaccines and medical equipment caused by the immediate past President slashing key imports, including fertilizer, essential food items, medicines and fuel, mainly due to his desperate attempt to deal with falling foreign currency reserves. 

In May, a former Health Ministry Secretary said 188, nearly a third of the 646 of the basic medicines required by patients, were not available in the ministry’s Medical Supplies Division. 
Fourteen of these drugs, including one for heart patients were essential, he said. Surgical equipment too is in short supply he said, adding the ministry had been unable to pay Rs. 34 billion (US$100 million) to pharmaceutical and surgical equipment suppliers.

This situation is not restricted to state-run public hospitals. Private sector hospitals too have reported vital medicines, including anaesthetics, were in short supply. As though this situation was not bad enough, bureaucrats and their political masters continue to line their pockets at the expense of the country and people.

In November last year, our sister paper the ‘Lankadeepa’, carried a damning report accusing the state authorities of procuring a consignment of a particular injection (1563 vials) at Rs.70 million. The marked cost of the item is estimated to be in the range of Rs. 300,000. To date we have yet to hear of even an enquiry being instituted into this charge.
These warnings and charges expose the extent of the health care system has been run down - created by the shortage of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, mismanagement and corruption.

Can, or will our governing authorities be able to head off a complete breakdown in health services? To do that, there first needs to be a political will to crack down on corruption and a need to get our priorities right.
According to wsws.org (World Socialist Web Site) the budget allocation for defence in 2020 was Rs.290 billion, while health spending was just Rs.254 billion. In 2021 defence received Rs.380 billion with Rs. 286 billion allocated for health. The 2022 budget allocates, Rs.373 billion for defence, while a mere Rs.225 billion for health! 

The question which arises is, are there no men and women among our ruling elite, who care more for this country than for lining their private pockets. 
Are we going to prove correct the adage of a poet of yore, who once described Lanka with the words, “Where every aspect pleases and man alone is vile...”