Neville Fernando still a private hospital ; Health Secretary tells PCoI

The Malabe Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital is still a private hospital since it has not been acquired by the government yet, Health Secretary Wasantha Perera told a Presidential Commission of Inquiry yesterday (May 30).

While testifying before the Commission probing irregularities under the current government, Ms. Perera said that although the Hospital is still a private-owned entity, the government has been paying off the hospital's loans amounting upto Rs 2.5 billion as well as all the hsopital expenses.

She futher said that the expenditure of the hospital too is being borne by the government.

The Health Secretary explained that the Neville Fernando Hospital could be acquired by the government only after 10 years since cabinet approval saw the hospital being brought under the private-owned SAITM institute for the said time period.

During yesterday's sitting, the Commission Chairman had emphasised that the Secretaries of all Ministries must object to any wrong proposals which are being implemented by the Ministers.

Ms. Perera urged that swift measures must be taken to bring the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital under the purview of the government.

Commission sittings were postponed until June 06 following yesterday's hearing.