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State doctors urge government to use Itukama fund to alleviate country-wide essential drug and equipment shortage
Tue, Apr 12, 2022, 12:49 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Apr 11, Colombo: The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Monday urged the government to utilize the President’s Itukama fund, established during the Covid disaster to alleviate country-wide essential drug and equipment shortage which is jeopardizing the health sector.
In a letter to the newly appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the GMOA expressing concern regarding the current crisis in Sri Lanka caused by the poor economic and financial management, said the crisis has worsened and it has gone up to the extent of jeopardizing the Health Sector with an ensuing country-wide essential drug and equipment shortage.
“This has endangered the lives of the citizens violating their Fundamental Rights with regard to the Right to life and Right to health,” the doctors’ union emphasized.
The GMOA said it has convened a program to coordinate donations of drugs and equipment from the International Community, the Sri Lankan doctors and citizens abroad.
In order to further aid the health sector, GMOA Executive Committee has decided to request the Central bank to utilize the already accumulated funds of the Itukama Covid-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund by exercising his authority as the chairman of the said project.
The Doctors’ union pointed out that the primary objective of the Itukama project from the initiation itself has been to maintain the Health Care service to an optimum level without allowing for a system collapse ensuring an uninterrupted health service.
“Thus, we believe that the said goal would allow for the utilization of the available funds to manage the current crisis in the health sector considering it to be a top priority at this crucial moment.”
“Hence, we earnestly request your good offices to pay urgent attention in utilizing the Itukama Fund to restore the uninterrupted health services of Sri Lanka in order to ensure the citizens’ Right to life and Right to health,” letter to the Central Bank Governor said.
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