• Accuses Govt. of carrying out witch hunts against health professionals revealing info
• Likens Govt. actions to terrorism and accuses it of conducting business over bodies of citizens
• Says opposition will oppose Govt. actions and bring officials responsible before law under a future Govt.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday accused the Government of attempting to destroy Sri Lanka’s free health service. “The Government has embarked on a mission to destroy the country’s free health service by using various means such as financial waste, corruption, fraud, importation of substandard medicinal drugs and equipment along with suppression, state terrorism, concealing information from the people and launching witch hunts against health professionals revealing information about the health service crisis,” he said.  The opposition leader liked the Government’s actions as an act of terrorism. Premadasa made these comments at the inaugural meeting of the special opposition leader’s parliamentary committee led by him. 

Premadasa said the Government has disregarded procurement procedures in obtaining medicinal drugs by using S. 109 of the act. “They are conducting medical businesses over the bodies of the people. As a result of sub-standard anaesthesia being administered children and many others have lost their lives,” he alleged.  

He also revealed that the Ministry of Health is failing to obtain top-quality equipment necessary to treat cancer patients and are instead using out-of-date equipment. He also said while health professionals have begun to leave the country, those who remain are being hunted down by the Government. 

Premadasa said 23 experts of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority have been removed. He accused the Government of attempting to conceal the true facts and penalising medical professionals who dare to reveal the true information to the people.  The opposition leader said he will support health professionals who have bravely stood for the truth and even foot their legal bills.  

Premadasa said all those involved in concealing fraud and corruption in the health sector will be brought before justice under a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Government. “Those who knowingly engage in criminal activities, who knowingly bring in inferior drugs leading to the loss of human lives, will be severely punished by the law,” he said. 

He assured he and his party will oppose the Government in and outside parliament regarding the rampant corruption in the health sector including those relating to the importation of drugs. 

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