RW directs President’s Fund Secretary to clear applications backlog

• Of the 11,000 applications received by the President’s Fund in 2022, work has been completed on 10,360
• In 2022, Rs. 1.5 b has been paid as a medical aid
• Wickremesinghe issues instructions to carry out the work of the President’s Fund more efficiently and comprehensively in 2023  
• Measures to increase the allowances paid as medical aid and to update the list of diseases for which medical aid is paid

Secretary to the President’s Fund W.A. Sarath Kumara said that steps have been taken to complete the work on 10,360 applications out of the 11,000 applications received by the end of 2022. 

Kumara said that most of the payments related to the applications have already been made and the remaining applications are being cleared promptly and the documents are scheduled to be completed within the next few weeks.

Accordingly, he noted that nearly Rs. 1.5 billion has already been paid for medical aid within this year. 

As of 1 August 2022, the President’s Fund had 8,210 applications piling up without any work being done. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake instructed the President’s Fund to complete the work related to these applications before 31 December. Accordingly, Secretary to the President’s Fund Kumara has expedited the work.

Work on 10,360 applications has been completed so far and 642 applications received at the end of the year where the work have not been completed due to various reasons, the related money will be settled promptly and the work is scheduled to be completed within the next few weeks. Kumara said that the President has given instructions to speed up the provision of medical aid to needy patients giving priority to the piled-up applications. He also stated that it is expected to complete and expedite the relevant payments, thereby providing prompt service to needy patients.

He also said that in addition to the hospitals currently registered with the President’s Fund, new hospitals have also been registered to reduce the need for patients from distant areas to come to the cities to get medical assistance. 

In addition, a committee consisting of medical experts has been appointed to obtain the necessary recommendations to increase the financial assistance currently paid for surgery and treatment, and President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed to increase the amount of medical assistance paid as soon as the recommendations of the committee are made.

Accordingly, in the first few months of 2023, the allowances paid as medical aid will be increased.

Apart from the number of diseases for which medical aid will be paid, the committee has been instructed to give necessary recommendations about the conditions for which further medical aid should be paid. As soon as the instructions are received, the necessary approvals will be obtained and the amount of medical aid paid as well as the list of diseases for which medical aid will be paid will be updated.  According to the approved provisions of the Presidential Fund Act, Rs. 20 million has been released for charitable grants and the improvement of religious activities, while about Rs. 1.3 billion has been released for the Mahapola higher education scholarships from the money received by the presidential fund in 2022. 

In addition, with effect from January 2023, based on the instructions of the President, arrangements have been made for the selection of students to receive Rs. 5,000 each for two years. Yesterday (30 December) was the last date for accepting applications from eligible students. 

Taking into account the transportation and other economic difficulties faced by the public who submit applications to the President’s Fund for receiving medical aid, short messages (SMS) will be sent on six occasions to cover each occasion from the time the application is submitted to the point the payment is made. It is also planned to further streamline these activities in 2023.