Dr. Sanjeewa said the basic cost of bypass surgery and stent procedures in private hospitals has now reached around Rs. 1.5 million, with overall expenses increasing further depending on hospital stay and intensive care requirements. He noted that these rising costs have made it increasingly difficult for ordinary patients to afford life-saving cardiac procedures in the private sector.
He further pointed out that more than 10,000 patients are currently on waiting lists for heart surgeries and related investigations in the government hospital system. These include major hospitals such as the National Hospitals in Colombo, Kandy, and Galle, as well as hospitals in Anuradhapura, Jaffna, and Batticaloa.
According to him, the backlog has become so severe that some patients are reportedly being given surgery dates extending to many years, leaving them in vulnerable conditions while awaiting treatment.
Dr. Sanjeewa also highlighted shortages of essential surgical equipment in certain state hospitals, along with the need for some diagnostic tests to be carried out in the private sector at additional cost, further increasing the burden on patients.
He added that although it has been announced that funding from the President’s Fund will be allocated for heart surgeries, there is little visible evidence that the mechanism is being effectively implemented. He also criticized the weak implementation of health insurance systems, saying patients continue to bear heavy out-of-pocket expenses when forced to seek private care due to delays in the public system.
The situation, he warned, has left many low-income patients in a critical position, unable to access timely cardiac treatment in either the public or private healthcare sectors.
