Amid crisis here, top health officials want to go to Japan

The President’s Office was dismayed by a request from the Health Ministry to send a large delegation comprising senior health officials to Japan for a World Bank sponsored a “Knowledge Exchange” programme.

The event will take place from March 13 to March 20 and expenses incurred during the programme will be borne by the World Bank. The number of senior officials who have been included in the delegation has raised eyebrows given the severity of the country’s health crisis.

It is common knowledge there is a severe lack of essential medicines and medical equipment at present. Health sector trade unions have been up in arms for months over the crisis, calling on authorities to take urgent measures to prevent the Staterun health sector’s total collapse. Meanwhile, doctors have also launched trade union action over the increase in PAYE taxes, and there is a real possibility of there being a continuous strike over the issue.

Given the prevailing situation, the absence of so many senior officials for at least a week is a matter of serious concern, it has been pointed out. There is also the question of what “knowledge” of any worth a health sector in such a crippled state would be able to share after sending such a high level delegation all the way to Japan.

It was also pointed out that officials were also entitled to a daily allowance of US$ 75 for expenses on such foreign visits, which they never hesitated to claim. The President’s office recently gave instructions to the Finance Ministry to reduce this amount as it was no longer affordable to pay such an allowance.

When contacted, a Health Ministry senior official confirmed that the Ministry had received an invitation to attend the programme but claimed it had “no plans” to send a delegation.

The President’s office recently gave instructions to the Finance Ministry to reduce this amount as it was no longer affordable to pay such an allowance.