Rajitha and Indika in heated argument over NFTH

A heated argument erupted in parliament between Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne and UPFA MP Indika Anuruddha over the Nevil Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH).

The MP claimed the government was allocating millions of rupees to NFTH, which is not a government hospital, to buy medicines while government hospitals were short of drugs.

The Minister said hospital directors had confirmed that there was no shortage of drugs in government hospitals as reported and that NFTH was managed by the government and its services were offered free of charge.

"NFTH is operated by a board of directors similar to the Sri Jayawardane Hospital," he said and added that the NFTH was currently owned by the Bank of Ceylon until the loan obtained by the hospital was paid off and added that it would be taken over by the government thereafter.

The Minister said NFTH was equipped with the latest apparatus and was the best hospital from among the private hospitals and worth more than Rs.13 billion though it was acquired only for Rs.3.5 billion. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)