Inadequate funding is affecting the functioning of the cancer unit and several other services at the Base Hospital Thellippalai, as discussions continue over whether the Hospital should be brought under the line Health Ministry, informed sources told The Daily Morning on 3 September.

Sources said that Hospital staff, the administration and consultants are in favour of the entire Hospital being brought under the line Ministry, while certain politicians are of the opinion that only the said unit should be taken over and that the Hospital should remain under the Provincial Council (PC). They said that taking over only the unit would not be adequate, as cancer patients also require services from other units of the Hospital, including surgery and paediatric services.

“The Provincial Government receives only limited funds, which are inadequate to run the said unit,” the sources lamented.

They pointed out that the same units at the Kandy and Galle National Hospitals and the National Cancer Institute/Apeksha Hospital come under the line Ministry.

They said that while requests had been made for additional funds, such funding had not been provided, adding that allocations to the PC are made through the Finance Commission from Treasury funds.

Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa recently visited the Hospital and held discussions with stakeholders on the matter. Following the discussions, he appointed an expert committee to examine the issue. The said committee has held discussions with the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS), Jaffna. However, RDHS Jaffna Dr A Ketheethswaran told The Daily Morning that the committee is yet to visit the Hospital.

Sources also said that some Northern Province Parliamentarians are opposed to the entire Hospital being taken over by the line Ministry, claiming that this would be against the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Attempts to contact the Ministry Secretary were unsuccessful.