RESTORING THE MEDICAL BACKBONE OF THE SRI LANKA ARMY

This article provides a critical assessment of the profound challenges facing the Sri Lanka Army's premier medical facility, the Narahenpita Military Hospital.

- Major General Dr Boniface Perera

For sixteen years since the conclusion of the civil conflict, this institution has served as the vital medical hub for thousands of serving and retired service members, upholding a national commitment to those who sacrificed for the country. However, a detailed analysis reveals that this central pillar of military welfare is at a breaking point due to a convergence of systemic failures, a severe and accelerating shortage of medical professionals, a critical collapse in the supply of essential medicines and equipment, and a fundamental misalignment in fiscal priorities. These issues, while symptomatic of a broader national crisis, pose a direct and escalating threat to the morale, retention, and long-term operational readiness of the armed forces.

The report identifies three primary vulnerabilities: first, a “brain drain” of skilled medical personnel, a problem exacerbated by a failure to provide basic incentives and infrastructure, such as dedicated quarters for intern house officers. Second, a crippled supply chain, where a national economic crisis has left hospitals devoid of lifesaving medications and medical supplies, forcing a dangerous reliance on costly, or at times, substandard alternatives. Third, a budgetary paradox, where a significant increase in the overall defence budget has not translated into sufficient, ring-fenced funding for military healthcare, creating a resource scarcity for urgent and critical needs. Addressing these issues is not merely a matter of social responsibility; it is a strategic imperative for the Commander-in-Chief. This article outlines a three-tiered framework for reform, proposing immediate, midterm, and long-term interventions to restore the integrity of the military medical system and, in doing so, to reassert the nation's unwavering commitment to its protectors.

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