• Claims some surgery dates pushed as far as 2029 
• Blames shortages, procurement failures, and cheap device sourcing 
• Galle Hospital Director denies shortages, says procedures continue as usual 

The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) claimed that nearly 10,000 patients are currently on waiting lists for heart surgeries and related procedures at State hospitals.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (13), MCPA President Dr  Chamal Sanjeewa claimed the base cost of bypass surgeries and stent procedures at private hospitals has now reached nearly Rs 1.5 million. 

"The total cost could increase several-fold depending on the number of days that a patient spends in hospital and in intensive care. This situation makes such treatment unaffordable for many ordinary people." He said that close to 10,000 patients are currently on waiting lists for heart surgeries and diagnostic procedures at several major Hospitals including the National Hospitals of Colombo, Kandy, and Galle, and the Teaching Hospitals in Anuradhapura, Jaffna, and Batticaloa. 

"Some patients have had their surgery dates delayed for periods extending up to 2029. Such patients are left in extremely vulnerable situations." "In addition, there are shortages of essential equipment required for surgeries at certain State/Government hospitals. Even some laboratory tests have to be carried out through private institutions. This is a growing crisis, but, there is still no clear and structured programme in place to reduce waiting lists."

According to informed health service sources at the Colombo and Galle National Hospitals, who spoke to The Daily Morning on the condition of anonymity, shortcomings in the procurement process have led to shortages in balloon catheters, catheters and stents in several hospitals, including the National Hospitals in Colombo and Galle.  In the wake of claims made by Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa regarding the shortages of cardiac interventional devices at the National Hospital in Galle, informed health service sources yesterday (13) told The Daily Morning that the shortages had resulted in endangering the lives of patients and jeopardising cardiac procedures. 

According to them, procurement delays had caused shortages in balloon catheters of various sizes and lengths, catheters and stents, so much so that either the procedure had to be postponed for a later date or the medical teams conducting the procedure had to utilise interventional cardiology devices that were closest to the sizes that were required for the patient, only if available. They noted that when stenting procedures are postponed, patients had to undergo the angiogram a second time. Delays in procurement, and the Health Ministry’s efforts to obtain even cardiac interventional devices at a cheaper cost are some of the causes for these shortcomings, they accused.

However, the Director of the National Hospital in Galle refuted claims made by Premadasa regarding the shortage of stents, stating that angiogram examinations and stent procedures for cardiac patients are being “carried out as usual.”  The Ministry, quoting Director,  National Hospital of Galle, Dr  SDUM Ranga said that at the Hospital, angiogram examinations and stent procedures for cardiac patients are being carried out as usual. 

“The required stents are available at the Hospital.” Dr  Ranga said that required quantities of pre-dilatation and post-dilatation balloons are also available at the Hospital. “There are no issues with other equipment as well.” He said that the Ministry had provided a new angiogram machine to the Hospital, and that installation work is currently underway. He further claimed that Premadasa had made the claim without obtaining formal clarification from the Hospital authorities.  

Dr  Sanjeewa further charged that although it had been announced that funds would be allocated through the President’s Fund to support heart surgeries, there has so far been little evidence of such measures being implemented in practice. He also noted that the lack of a properly functioning health insurance system in Sri Lanka has added to the difficulties faced by the public when seeking treatment from the private sector.

Deputy Health Minister, Dr  Hansaka Wijemuni and Health Secretary Dr  Anil Jasinghe were not available for comment.