PET scan fund: Shame on you politicians

Irefer to the recent news story regarding the collection of funds to get a PET Scanner for the Maharagama Cancer Institute, initiated by Mr. Mohamed. We appreciate his efforts.

What is shocking to me are his revelations that the Cancer Hospital not only did not have a PET Scanner but it also did not have a latest Ultra Sound Scanner or even an MRI Scanner? He says the Ultra Sound machine there is 18 years old .

Isn’t it a crying shame to have that kind of outdated technology to diagnose cancer?

I wonder how the leading Cancer Institute functions like this in a country that boasts of good health care index according to the World Banks reports. Isn’t it a shame for our country not to have at least one PET scanner (in the state sector) for the most dangerous diseases that our people face.

I wonder what the Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne was doing all this time? He has held this position in previous governments as well.

The most worrying situation is that our present President, Maithripala Sirisena who was the previous government’s Health Minister could not source these most needed equipment.

I fail to understand how the previous government of Mahinda Rajapaksa which spent colossal amounts of money on unwanted public activities did not acquire this equipment either? What type of country are we living in? Isn’t it a shame to tell the entire world that we do not have a PET Scanner in the Cancer Institute?

Has the President, Prime Minister or at least the Health Minister visited the Maharagama Cancer Institute even for shelter on a rainy day?

Shame on us. Shabir Zainudeen Dubai