The recent dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka has exposed the dire state of the country's public health system, which has been systematically dismantled over decades under the influence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This crisis, affecting tens of thousands of people, is a stark reminder of the consequences of prioritizing austerity measures over public health. The outbreak has overwhelmed hospitals, with daily admissions reaching alarming levels, and the situation is particularly dire in the Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Eastern provinces.
One of the key issues is the underestimation of the true scale of the epidemic. Official figures suggest a much lower number of infections compared to the reality, as a significant portion of infected individuals remain asymptomatic. This deliberate underreporting mirrors the approach during the COVID-19 pandemic, where governments prioritized corporate profits over human lives. The JVP/NPP government's response to dengue has been criticized for downplaying the outbreak and failing to take necessary emergency measures.
The crisis in Sri Lanka's public health system is multifaceted. Hospitals are struggling with a shortage of medical staff, broken equipment, and crumbling infrastructure. The Kandy National Hospital, for instance, has only one MRI machine, leading to long wait times and missed diagnoses. Community health services, the front line of dengue prevention, are also in crisis due to staffing shortages and funding cuts. The situation is exacerbated by the exodus of medical professionals, with nearly 10% of doctors and over 2,500 nurses leaving the country in recent years.
The capitalist ruling class's focus on profit interests has led to further cuts in health care funding. While billions of rupees are allocated to major corporations, essential services like health care continue to suffer. The trade unions representing health workers have been criticized for supporting the IMF program and suppressing workers' struggles. The Socialist Equality Party calls for independent action committees to fight for the resources needed to rebuild public health, including democratic control of major banks, corporations, and private hospitals, and the rejection of foreign debt repayments.
In conclusion, the dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka is a social crime resulting from the systematic destruction of the public health system and the assault on the universal right to free health care. The crisis highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to public health, prioritizing human lives over profit interests, and addressing the underlying structural issues in the healthcare system.
