Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa says future donations for the health sector will have to align with the government’s national plan.
Addressing an event yesterday, Minister Jayatissa said the government intends to streamline donations received from various local philanthropists and foreign companies, to utilize it systematically.
“We intend to systematically use the donations. Going forward, donations will not be accepted for political or personal needs. Even though donations are made with good intentions, it becomes a burden for the government after a few years,” he said.
The Health Minister said donations will be accepted only by taking into consideration their alignment with the government’s policies and purpose for the next 20 years.
“As we see now, buildings have been built using donations in some places. Then protests are held if they don’t have sufficient doctors and equipment. Politicians will have dreams to improve their area hospitals to the standards of a general hospital,” he said.
Minister Jayatissa said, however, going forward, such donations will only be allowed after considering how well they fit the government’s National Policy.
He pointed out that the Health Ministry was an entity that receives funds as and when requested by any government and that the Treasury allocates large sums of money regularly.
The Health Minister said that the highest allocation for the Health Ministry in the history of Sri Lanka has been made in the budget for this year.
Minister Nalinda Jayatissa made the comments while attending the opening of the first Paediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Unit for children with cancer in a government hospital.
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), with financial support from the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Dewalaya, completed the establishment of the Unit, which was inaugurated at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama. (Newswire)
