• Says only 19% out of Rs. 18 b allocated for supply of drugs in 2025 has been spent, thus far
• Dr. Sanjeewa says out of Rs. 13 b allocated for purchase of medical equipment, only 12% used
• Claims that of Rs. 1 b allocated for maternal and child health, just 5% has been spent
• MoH unavailable for comment

The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) stated that more than 80% of the total budget allocated for the health sector in 2025 has not been used.

A sum of Rs. 474.9 billion has been allocated through the 2025 Budget for the health sector.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, MCPA President Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa said that a report released under the Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016, and signed by the Health Ministry’s Chief Financial Officer, G.S. Karunaratne, shows that over Rs. 18 billion had been set aside for the supply of pharmaceutical drugs. So far, only about 19% of that amount has been spent.

Out of more than Rs. 13 billion allocated for the purchase of medical equipment, only around 12% has been used, he said.

He further noted that spending on infrastructure is also low, with only about 16% of the funds allocated for new buildings being utilised. In the maternal and child health sector, just 5% of the nearly Rs. 1 billion allocation has been spent.

Dr. Sanjeewa added that the report also shows that only 0.3% of the funds allocated for communicable disease prevention have been used, while non-communicable disease spending stands at just 3% of the total allocation.

Out of close to Rs. 9 billion provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support the country’s health system, only about 8% has been utilised so far.

One of the most serious findings, he said, is that none of the nearly Rs. 190 million received as a primary health care fund has been spent.

Dr. Sanjeewa said that the current financial performance shows that the health sector cannot be effectively managed by officials who have held top positions in the ministry since before 2019. He said that unless President Anura Kumara Dissanayake takes firm action, a more severe health crisis may emerge in 2026.

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