Fuel crisis faced by Doctors Kamburupitiya and Matara hospitals closed

• The child’s father said he had to take the child to another hospital. Even emergency treatment was not available
• Activities in Matara General hospital were crippled when medical staff resorted to TU action demanding fuel  facilities

By Krishan Jeewaka   

The staff of Kamburupitiya hospital closed the hospital and left to obtain fuel for their vehicles after displaying a notice. The patients who sought treatment were inconvenienced. Among them was a child who had sustained a serious fracture in his left lower limb.   

 The child’s father said he had to take the child to another hospital. Even emergency treatment was not available. He then took him  to a private hospital and ultimately to the Matara General Hospital with the patient in a critical condition.   

Hospital Director W.P.R. Dharmakirthi said the staff had faced inconvenience at the Ransegoda filling station but the hospital had been closed after he left. He said he instructed the security staff to open the gate. Dr. Dharmakirthi said he would hold an inquiry into the incident regarding the injured child.