Sri Lanka's health system is also 'at risk' due to economic crisis

 The entire ward of Sri Lanka's largest hospital is in darkness and almost empty. Some of the patients here have not been treated and are still in pain, while doctors are even avoiding coming to their jobs.

According to the French news agency AFP, the economic crisis has dealt a severe blow to a free and universal healthcare system that was the envy of neighboring countries just a few months ago.

Suffering from diabetes and anemia, which has caused swelling in her joints, Theresa Marie had to come to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in the capital, Colombo, for treatment.

In the last leg of his journey, he had to limp for five kilometers due to lack of a ride.

Theresa Marie was discharged from the hospital four days later, struggling to stand on her feet, as the dispensary ran out of subsidized painkillers.

The 70-year-old woman told AFP, "Doctors told me to buy medicine from a private pharmacy, but I don't have money."

"My knees are still swollen. I have no house in Colombo. I don't know how long I have to walk.'

The National Hospital normally caters to the specialized treatment needs of all people in the country, but is now understaffed and many of its 3400 beds are lying unused.

Supplies of surgical instruments and life-saving drugs have almost run out, while petrol shortages have left both patients and doctors unable to travel for treatment.

According to Dr Vasan Ratnasingham, a member of the Government Medical Officers Association, 'patients are not reporting on time for surgery.'

Some medical staff are working double shifts as others are not coming to duty. They have vehicles but no petrol.

Sri Lanka imports 85% of medicines and medical equipment along with raw materials to manufacture the rest of its needs.

But the country is now bankrupt and a lack of foreign currency has left it unable to buy the petrol it needs to keep the economy afloat and the pharmaceuticals it needs to treat the sick.

Regarding the shortage of medicines, a pharmacy owner said that the supply of common painkillers, antibiotics and children's medicine is very low. Other medicines have become four times more expensive in the last three months.

Health Ministry officials, on the other hand, refused to divulge details about the current state of Sri Lanka's public health services, on which 90 percent of the population depends.

Doctors working in government hospitals say they have been forced to curtail routine surgeries and use less effective alternative medicines to prioritize life-threatening emergencies.

"Sri Lanka's once robust health care system is now under threat," UN Resident Coordinator Hanna Singer Hamdi said in a statement. The most vulnerable are affected the most.