I was appointed Health Minister in 2010 to eliminate me politically – Former President

Former President and Polonnaruwa District MP Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament yesterday (30) that he was appointed as Health Minister in 2010 to eliminate him politically.

The MP said that although he was appointed as the Health Minister to eliminate himself, he ended up becoming the President and he has reminded the new Health Minister also of that. He said this while joining the debate held under the budget heading of the Health Ministry. He also said that 40 rural hospitals in the country are currently closed. It is said that it can increase to 100 in the coming period. There is a service called Registered Medical Service. If those doctors are referred to these closed hospitals, the hospitals can be run. It was the Government Medical Officers’ Association that worked to eliminate this service. Development is not the increase of physical resources.

“The primary health sector needs to be developed. We have very few nutritionists. The GMOA also stopped the emergence of nutritionists. Countries like Korea have nutritionists at regional level. They go to homes and educate the people and carry out disease prevention activities. Such a programme should be implemented in this country as well”.

“I became the President of the country because I was the Health Minister. The new Health Minister needs to be reminded of that. When we talk about fraud and corruption, a large number of tenders are called when taking medicines from places like the medical supply sector, pharmaceutical corporations.The tender system is totally corrupt in this country. When you go to any country in the world, there is recognition of the health service in this country. That situation should be further protected,” he said.

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