BY Dinitha Rathnayake
A number of laboratory tests and essential health services have been systematically shut down due to the non-payment of around Rs. 10 billion for essential medical supplies, including laboratory reagents, the Federation for Health Professionals alleged.
Speaking to The Morning, the Federation’s Convener Ravi Kumudesh claimed that certain companies have informed the Health Ministry that they are unable to continue the further supply of the same, adding that the said non-payment of dues has also led to the closure of several small companies.
“While the amount of dues owed has exceeded the limit of Rs. 10 billion, this year's budget has limited the total allocation for it to Rs. 4 billion. Even out of that amount, the allocation has been limited to Rs. 1 billion while only Rs. 200 million has been received in cash for the first quarter. Even so, the ministry continues to waste money on substandard equipment imported by engaging in the taking of commissions and cronyism, instead of low-cost testing, and the use of low-cost antibodies in laboratory tests in order to prevent the importation of unwanted equipment. The ministry does not appear to be making any positive interventions,” he alleged.
Kumudesh further claimed that the debt burden has tripled due to the disposal of well-functioning equipment, the Government spending on billions of rupees worth of new equipment, and making a single test cost more than low-cost testing machines.
“If the ministry had acted with understanding to control the price of a unit test, this debt burden could have been halved.”
However, despite this financial mismanagement, it is the responsibility of the ministry to work out a plan with the informed parties in order to prevent a situation where all laboratory tests have to be stopped in the end, he noted.
Speaking to The Morning, Medical Supplies Division’s (MSD) Deputy Director General Dr. D.R.K. Herath said that there is no outstanding amount as claimed above.
Claims that certain lab tests, vital health services non-operative
17 Mar 2022
Claims that certain lab tests, vital health services non-operative
17 Mar 2022
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