Jaffna hospitals said critical

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Surgical operations at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital and at the Pt. Pedro Base Hospital have been postponed due to drugs and other medical accessories requisitioned for the second quarter of 1998 not having arrived in Jaffna as yet, said sources in Jaffna.

The drug shortage has affected medical services in the entire district because, except for surgery of the most basic kind, all other operations are referred to these two hospitals.

The shortage of supplies affects not only drugs, but x-ray films, oxygen and other materials as well, said sources.

The non-availability of these materials has led to routine operations being postponed. Even emergency cases require the sanction of the doctor before being admitted for surgery, said sources.

Irregular delivery of medical supplies has caused hardship in the Jaffna hospitals before as well. But what was affected most was the supply drugs and not other material such as x-ray films, said sources.

Repeated pleas by Jaffna medical institutions for supplies have been ignored by the Sri Lankan government, said hospital sources. "It's not that the material can't be brought here, it's simply not being sent" said a hospital official.