'State Health Sector will not be privatised'- President
[22 Jan 2001]

Addressing the commissioning ceremony of the new Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner (MRI) held yesterday, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge assured that the government has no intention to privatise the State health sector to deprive the majority poor of the free medical services.

Out of the estimated value of Rs. 78 million, the President’s Fund contributed Rs. 45 million to purchase the machine. Public contributed to the rest.

“All health sector workers including doctors and nurses are well qualified professionals and there is no need to do so,” President said.

President further said that the allocation on the health sector has been increased annually. It has gone up from Rs. 5200 million in 1994 to Rs. 12,000 million in 1999. “We will increase it to Rs. 21,000 million this year.”

She said the government has appointed a special committee comprising intellectuals and professionals in the field to ensure better health care system in the country. The necessary funds too can be obtained internationally as a result of our good governance.

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