By Rathindra Kuruwita

Medical Specialists attached to the Maharagama Apeksha Cancer Hospital have warned that the operations of the institution might come to a halt due to the prevailing fuel shortage.The doctors said that the fuel shortage had affected the hospital operations as well as the ability of hospital staff to travel to work.
Head of the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) Dr. Lakkumar Fernando said that despite the crippling fuel shortage, all staff members of the Apeksha Hospital had managed to ensure that the hospital continued its operations.

“Staff of the hospital ensured that the institution functioned during the pandemic and trade union action. However, the fuel shortage is so severe that the operations of the hospital might come to a halt. There is a high probability,” he said.If this eventuality takes place, it would lead to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The Specialists have urged the government to provide the necessary facilities so that the hospital could continue to function.
A senior medical officer, at Apeksha Hospital, said that already the minor staff and nurses, attached to the hospitals found it impossible to come to work. There were limited number of buses and three-wheelers, he said.

“Also three-wheeler charges are very high. Imagine travelling 10-15 kilometres in three-wheelers. Can a minor staff member afford that? Even health staff, with private vehicles, have no fuel. Health staffers wait in line for hours for fuel. People won’t give them priority as well. The government must fast track the quota system,” he said.The doctor added that some staff members, who oversee the operations at the ICU, had no fuel and the hospital tried to send hospital vehicles to pick up key staff members. However, that too was difficult due to lack of diesel.

“At this rate, we won’t be able to operate ambulances,” he said.Dr. Fernando said the fuel shortage had affected almost all hospitals and in many hospitals there was a severe shortage of staff in the night.

“Most health staff members can’t come to work. Health workers wait in line for long hours and sometime have to return without pumping fuel. Given that petrol shortages are becoming increasingly scarce, things can only get worse. Sri Lanka is not a place where you can get to your work station at 9 pm in buses and trains. The situation is extremely serious where hospitals are concerned,” he said.