The most severe economic crisis in the history of Sri Lanka threatens the free and universal health services that the countries of South Asia envied it a few months ago.
“Hospital admissions down 60%“, told AFP Dr. Vasan Ratnasingham, who heads an association of doctors in Colombo, “even patients who were scheduled for surgery do not show up“.
Due to a lack of fuel, the transport of patients and medical personnel is hampered.
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“Some medical staff are doing double shifts because others can’t come to work“, says Dr. Vasan, “they have cars but no fuel“.
And the rare patients, who succeed in reaching the national hospital of Colombo, are treated there with the means at hand.
Despite pain in her knees, brought on by diabetes and blood pressure, 70-year-old Theresa Mary walked three miles to get to the facility where she was admitted.
Four days later, when he was discharged from the hospital without tranquilizers and many other drugs, his suffering, which could not be relieved there, worries him.
“The doctors prescribed me medicine to buy in a private pharmacy, but I have no money“, she told AFP.
“My knees are always swollen and I have no roof in Colombo. I don’t know how long I’ll have to walk“, she adds, looking anxious and tearful, before limping away.
– Blood supplies are running out –
Sri Lanka, now bankrupt, no longer has foreign currency to run the economy and import 85% of its drug and medical equipment needs.
The country has lacked everything for months, food, fuel, raw materials.
“Painkillers, antibiotics and pediatric drugs are extremely rare. Some drugs have become up to four times more expensive in the last three months“, K. Mathiyalagan, 40 years, un pharmacist.
“A multitude of basic medicines are completely sold out, and even if wholesalers have stocks, the supply remains very slow“, adds Mr. Mathiyalagan, a member of the Colombo Pharma Committee, an association of private pharmacies in the capital.
Every day, his pharmacy rejects about 30 out of 100 prescriptions, missing prescribed medication.
“Doctors prescribe without knowing what is available in pharmacies“, remarks the pharmacist.
The stocks of blood donations and consumables are running out, worry the doctors of the national hospital.
– “On the verge of collapse” –
“We are forced to limit the operations of minor cases to give priority only to emergencies“, explains to AFP a doctor who requested anonymity.
The authorities of the Ministry of Health refused to comment on the state of the health services on which 90% of the population depend.
The World Bank recently redirected development funds to help Sri Lanka get the medicines it needs most, such as rabies vaccines.
Last month, the United Nations appealed for international assistance to raise $47.2 million to provide lifesaving assistance at this stage.
“Sri Lanka’s once strong health system is now in jeopardy, livelihoods are being affected, the most vulnerable are paying the heaviest price“, estimated then Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, resident coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka.
According to the World Food Program (WFP), almost a quarter of the island’s 22 million inhabitants need food aid, and more than five out of six families do not have enough to eat or buy food of lower quality.
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If this situation continues,more children will die and malnutrition will become chronic“, warns Dr. Vasan, “the whole healthcare system is at risk of being on the brink of collapse“.
