COPE flags unpaid Medical bills and administrative lapses at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital

• Recommends that a formal inquiry be conducted into these administrative failings, with disciplinary action pursued against officials found to have neglected their duties

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has raised serious concerns over financial mismanagement and irregular administrative practices at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, based on recent findings from the Auditor General’s reports.

One of the key issues highlighted by COPE is that several patients received treatment without making the necessary payments, and in some cases, charges that should have been collected were waived without proper justification. These lapses have significantly contributed to the hospital’s mounting financial losses, a statement from the Parliament Secretariat said.  

Despite the hospital offering specialist services, COPE observed that it had failed to generate sufficient revenue from them. It was revealed that while the necessary equipment for these services was sourced internally, the hospital had still paid approximately Rs. 600 million as professional fees to its entire staff in 2023 alone.  

Hospital officials present at the COPE meeting stated that certain categories of patients such as members of the clergy, staff family members, and retired employees —receive free or subsidized treatment under specific schemes. For instance, retired staff are entitled to a maximum of Rs. 4,000 worth of treatment. However, COPE emphasized the need for immediate reforms to prevent misuse of such privileges and ensure financial accountability.  

In addition, COPE revealed that numerous appointments had been made for unauthorized positions during a pre-election period. These individuals were granted a 35% salary allowance, which COPE determined to be legally invalid. Ironically, while these irregular appointments were compensated with inflated salaries, the officially approved position of “Laundry Inspector” had gone unpaid.  

As a result, COPE has recommended that a formal inquiry be conducted into these administrative failings, with disciplinary action pursued against officials found to have neglected their duties, it added.