The main Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) group of Parliamentarians approved the proposal to submit a no-confidence motion (NCM) against the Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella after a series of crises and shortcomings that have occurred in the State health sector, The Daily Morning learnt.
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (17), SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Maddumabandara said that the proposal was unanimously approved by all the SJB MPs at its Parliamentary group meeting held yesterday evening.
The calls for action against Rambukwella come in the wake of several suspicious deaths and lifelong injuries caused 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 contracts for maintenance work. Rambukwella, for his part, has denied any wrongdoing, stressing that he has been seeking funds from the Treasury to make payments for the relevant contracts.
However, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ruling Party said that it will give its maximum support to defeat the motion if any such motion is tabled. When contacted by the Daily Morning yesterday, SLPP General Secretary and Government MP, Attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said that the SLPP will vote in favour of 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 of a severe crisis with limited resources.
Most recently, a young woman admitted to the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital on 12 July with a complaint of abdominal pain, died after being given two injections.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) called for a detailed report from the relevant hospitals in which these incidents have 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 for imported medicines, according to Rambukwella.