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Trincomalee correspondent

Minister of Health, Nutrition and Welfare P. Dayaratne who unveiled the new name board of the upgraded Trincomalee General Hospital addressing a meeting held at the hospital said though there is no shortage of medical officers in the country, there is a shortage of consultant doctors numbering over four hundred. The Minister also declared open a new building consisting of six married quarters for medical officers.

Minister Dayaratne said he has already obtained cabinet approval to obtain the services of foreign medical experts so that they can be appointed to hospitals to fill vacancies.

He said while he was Minister of Rehabilitation he allocated Rs. 400m to develop Trincomalee hospital. He admitted that more development has to be done as he has seen more inmate patients at the wards than the number of beds available. Certain hospitals have been selected for improvement. While all hospitals in the Eastern province have to be improved special attention has been focused on the general hospitals at Ampara and Trincomalee and the teaching hospital at Batticaloa.

He said almost all the hospitals in the North have to be rehabilitated under a special programme. This programme requires a colossal sum of money and he hoped to obtain foreign aid for this purpose. He announced that the newly upgraded Trincomalee general hospital will be absorbed into the administration of the central government by next year. Minister Dayaratne said that the congestion at the general hospitals in Colombo, Kandy and Galle could be eased by improving hospitals in the provinces by providing necessary facilities. In addition to the hospitals at Ampara, Trincomalee and Batticaloa steps are being taken to improve the hospitals at Hambantota, Moneragala and Kegalle.

With the payment of interest for money obtained from foreign countries there is hardly any money remaining to utilize for development work. But with all the financial difficulties the government is facing the allocated amount for the Health Ministry has not been reduced.

He said the last government has provided facilities to train about thousand nurses and within the next four-five years the shortage of nurses in hospitals could be overcome.

The question of the casual and temporary labourers and other minor employees numbering over 4000 working in hospitals is under consideration and they will be made permanent as soon as possible. At present government has totally restricted providing employment. This restoration will be eased by next year.

Minister Dayaratne requested the appointment of hospital committees which can obtain the assistance of wealthy persons to maintain wards and to the improve the hospital. He discouraged the practice of expecting everything to be done by the government.

Acting Medical Superintendent Dr. B. Ganaikabahu in his welcome speech said Trincomalee hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in the country which is over a century old.

The hospital has now been upgraded and it requires many consultants. This hospital is without an ear, nose, throat physician and an eye surgeon for a long time. He requested the Minister to appoint these two consultants as early as possible.

Those who accompanied the Minister included Additional Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilake, Director General, Health Sector Development Christie Silva and other Ministry officials.

Members of Parliament M. A. M. Maharoof (UNP), K. M. Thawfeek (SLMC), UNP organiser Seruwila Sunil Santha Ranaweera, UNP organiser Trincomalee Ranjani Senasinghe, Secretary, Provincial Ministry of Health, R. M. S. Ratnayake, Chief Secretary NEPC G. Krishnamurthy, GA Trincomalee N. P. K. Nelumdeniya and Acting Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services, Trincomalee Dr. T. Thavakodirasa also spoke.

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