• Seeks President’s intervention for health sector issues 

The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to meet with the Union to address pressing issues affecting the State health service, warning that it would stage a sit-down protest outside the Presidential Secretariat if no action is taken.

In a letter handed over yesterday (16), MCPA President Dr. Chamal Sanjeeva outlined 10 “burning issues” facing the public health system, calling for urgent intervention. Key demands include the establishment of a health insurance scheme for the general public and the appointment of a Presidential commission to address the persistent human resource shortage in government hospitals.

Dr. Sanjeeva also highlighted critical shortages of cancer drugs and other essential medicines, urging the Presidential Fund to expedite surgical procedures. He called for investigations into allegations of corruption against senior officials in the State health service and stressed the need to continue probing transactions from the tenure of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

Other proposals included setting up a high-quality National Medicines Regulatory Authority laboratory, strengthening health tourism, expanding tele-health services, and promoting transparency through electronic procurement systems for medicines. The Union also called for national policies on high-quality medicine imports and responsible antibiotic usage to address ongoing crises in public healthcare.

The MCPA emphasised that urgent Presidential attention is needed to prevent further deterioration of the State health service, with the threat of a sit-down protest signalling the doctors’ resolve for immediate action.