- SLPP will stand with MoH: Kariyawasam
The parliamentary group of the main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will meet today (17) to decide if they will table a no-confidence motion against the Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella after a series of crises and shortcomings occurred in the state health sector, The Daily Morning learnt.
According to SJB Parliamentarian Kabir Hashim, the SJB will decide on the motion tomorrow. SJB General Secretary and Opposition MP Ranjith Maddumabandara said that while no final decision about the no-confidence motion has been taken as of yesterday, most opposition MPs are likely to agree to table a no-confidence motion against Health Minister Rambukwella.
The calls for action against the health minister comes in the wake of several suspicious deaths and lifelong injury to patients who were treated in State hospitals, and their possible links to substandard drugs. The health sector has also been plagued with multiple crises with many key instruments and scanning devices needed for analysis out of action due to unpaid maintained contracts. Rambukwella on his part has denied any wrongdoing, stressing that he has been seeking funds from the Treasury to make payments for relevant contracts.
However, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ruling party said it will give its maximum support to defeat the motion if any such motion is tabled.
When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (16) SLPP General Secretary Attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said that SLPP will vote in favour of Minister Rambukwella if any party submits a no-confidence motion against him since he (Rambukwella) is doing his best to manage the health sector in the middle if a severe crisis with limited resources.
Most recently, a young woman admitted to the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital on Wednesday (12) with a complaint of abdominal pain, died after being given two injections. The victim, 21, was a resident of Poththapitiya in Kadugannawa.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) called for a detailed report from the relevant hospitals in which the incidents occurred and urged the Ministry of Health and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to issue a clarification on the same as soon as possible.
The Government is taking initial steps to establish an internationally-accepted and accredited laboratory to conduct quality tests of medicines that are imported to the country, according to Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.