More than 80 percent of the 2025 budgetary allocation for the healthcare service has been returned unused to the treasury, claimed Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, president of the union of doctors for civil rights.
The total allocation for 2025 amounted to Rs. 474,874,000,000, yet only 19 pc of it had been utilized, according to a right to information report dated 05 July and signed by the ministry’s chief financial officer G. A. Karunaratne.
Of the more than Rs. 18 billion allocated for essential medicines, only about 19 pc had been spent.
Out of the Rs. 13,000 million reserved for purchasing equipment, only 12 pc had been used.
The construction of new buildings shows only 10% of allocated funds utilized.
Only five pc of the nearly Rs. 1,000 million meant for maternal and child health has been spent so far.
Of the allocations for disease control, three pc of the funds targeted at managing communicable diseases have been used, and the same minimal percentage applies to non-communicable disease programmes.
The ADB provided close to Rs. 900 million to strengthen the health sector, but only eight pc of it has been utilized.
Even more alarming is that nearly Rs. 190 million received as a primary health care fund remains untouched.
The president recently summoned senior ministry officials, where the mismanagement of budget allocations became a central topic of discussion.
Dr. Sanjeewa noted that this pattern proves the healthcare system cannot progress with the officials who hold top positions since before 2019.
Without decisive action from the president, a severe health crisis is unavoidable in the coming year, he added.
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