Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of the Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Civil Rights, has revealed that the Ministry of Health has so far managed to spend just a fraction of the allocations provided for the health system in last year’s budget.
According to Dr. Sanjeewa, out of the total budget allocation of Rs. 474,874,000,000 (nearly Rs. 48 billion) for 2025, significant portions remain unused.
The report, issued on 5th July 2025 by the Ministry of Health’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. G.S. Karunaratne, under the Right to Information Act, provides a detailed breakdown of expenditures:
Of over Rs. 18 billion allocated for the supply of medicines, only 19% has been spent.
Over Rs. 1,300 crore earmarked for the purchase of medical equipment has seen only 12% utilization.
Only 16% of the funds allocated for constructing new health facilities has been used.
Of nearly Rs. 1 billion designated for maternal and child health programs, a mere 0.5% has been spent.
Funds for controlling communicable diseases have been utilized by just 0.3%, while allocations for non-communicable disease programs have reached only 3%.
The Asian Development Bank’s contribution of nearly Rs. 900 crore for national health system development has seen only 8% utilization.
Alarmingly, of the Rs. 190 crore received as a primary health care fund, none has been spent so far.
Recently, the President summoned senior officials from the Ministry of Health to discuss the ongoing health crisis in the country, including the issue of unspent budget allocations.
Dr. Sanjeewa emphasized that the financial mismanagement indicates that the health system cannot progress under officials who have held high positions in the Ministry since before 2019. He further warned that without decisive action from the President, Sri Lanka could face a severe health crisis in the coming year.
