Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Health Minister has vowed to make some crucial decisions in the sector including the stamping out wide-scale corruption that came under constant criticism from the public and Opposition lawmakers.
Dr. Ramesh Pathirana was appointed as the Health Minister in a mini Cabinet re-shuffle earlier this week.
He told journalists in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo: “As we are aware, the healthcare in the country is confronted with a spate of challenges.
Although several issues have been addressed, there is a lot to be fixed. Therefore, the support of all stakeholders is vital towards putting things in order,” he said.
Pathirana said he needed some time to look into the questionable deaths of persons at Government hospitals following allegations that sub standard drugs had been imported and used on patients sans transparency on the true cost of purchases.
There were allegations against the former administration of corruption and mismanagement at the highest level that plunged the health sector to its lowest level in recent times.
The former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was removed from the health portfolio and instead asked to mind the environment.
