Health Crisis: Shortages hit ICUs and CCUs

Reports have emerged of a severe crisis at all hospitals in maintaining Intensive Care Units and Critical Care Units due to the lack of essential blood gas analysers.

As a result, patients on ventilators in ICUs and CCUs are at high risk, while health professionals claim it is futile to operate such units without blood gas analysers.

Relevant suppliers have informed that they cannot continue to supply the equipment as the Ministry of Health has failed to pay around Rs.300 million over a four-month period for the equipment.

The Academy of Health Professionals said while the Prime Minister informed former Deputy Minister Ruwan Wijewardene to look into the health service, discussions in this regard are yet to take place in order to seek a solution.