The Ministry of Health has approved providing priority service to war veterans and dependents of soldiers killed in Sri Lanka’s war when obtaining health services from government hospitals and clinics.
According to the Defence Ministry, the Ministry of Health has agreed to extend priority to ‘Virusara’ Privilege Card holders when they obtain health services from government hospitals.
The priority service is being provided as a result of the efforts of State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and the direct intervention of the Minister of Health Ramesh Pathirana.
Accordingly, this move comes after State Minister Tennakoon, on learning of incidents of difficulties experienced by war veterans in obtaining health services, had fruitful discussions with the Health Minister. As a result of a request by the State Minister at the discussion, the Ministry of Health had agreed to extend priority to ‘Virusara’ Privilege Card holders when they obtain health services from government hospitals.
Virusara card-holding war veterans and their dependents will be able to receive priority service when receiving treatment from the outpatient departments of government hospitals, as well as in medical, dental, eye, pediatric, prenatal and other clinics.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Health has taken measures to inform all provincial health services and regional health service directors instructing them to inform all their staff including directors, doctors and nurses of respective hospitals of this facility.
These welfare initiatives are carried out as a show of gratitude to the war veterans who sacrificed their lives and sustained injuries for the sake of the country. (Newswire)