By Sarath Wijesinghe PC., Solicitor of the U.K., Former Ambassador to the U.A.E. and Israel, Former secretary to Bar Association and The President,  Ambassadors Forum U.K. and Sri Lanka,With research and editorial assistance by Sugandhika K.  Hangilipola, Attorney-at-Law.

A patient always needs the help of others because, due to sickness, a patient is helpless and needs assistance. The Buddha and any leader of any religion have advised others to help patients. In fact, the Buddha himself treated Bhikkhus who had fallen sick during his time. King Buddhadasa was a famous king and a Vedamahathmaya, a leading physician who treated his countrymen with miraculous results. The Vedamahathmayas in villages took nothing for treatment, treating patients with care using herbal and other medicines in their possession until the British introduced Western medicine. Although Western medicine is a different system that people say has many implications and complications, unlike Ayurveda, we respect both groups and traditions.

Western Medicine is a system focused on treating illnesses by targeting and destroying the root cause and germs. In contrast, Ayurveda follows a different theory of treatment, addressing the root cause by considering the whole body. It has successfully treated patients using herbal methods for over 5,000 years. The Ayurvedic tradition in Sri Lanka is similar to India’s, though it maintains its own distinct characteristics.

Through its colonial history, Sri Lanka adopted Western Medicine, establishing a hospital system with free treatment inherited from the UK model. However, while these cures are available, private hospitals are widely used despite being extremely expensive. In truth, these private institutions often exploit patients, leaving them with massive bills that force some to sell property to pay them. Charges for hospital rooms resemble those of luxury hotels, leading to instances where regulatory action is confirmed to punish such practices.

Meanwhile, leading companies operate under intense schedules where employees work through normal sleeping hours or experience severe sleep deprivation, waking up abruptly to work before sleeping again. Because of these demanding conditions, regulatory rules are established to safeguard hospital employees and workers across all other areas.

Promises are needed to reactivate or introduce new regulatory bodies, similar to those in the UK, to restore effective governance mechanisms that are currently regressing rather than moving forward. A key priority is regularizing private hospitals, drawing inspiration from models, which remain relatively accessible to ordinary citizens. Urgent intervention is critical as citizens of all ages face health complications from unregulated, hazardous food and liquid consumption, often leaving them dependent on multiple daily medications without proper oversight from the Consumer Affairs Authority.

While the main focus remains on private healthcare, system structures vary globally. In the UK, medical care is entirely free from initial consultations to major surgeries. In the US, healthcare relies heavily on insurance, leaving uninsured individuals at risk of fatal neglect. In Sri Lanka, the public health system functions relatively well through community goodwill, active ambulance services, and generally compassionate staff. However, private hospitals operate like exploitative black marketers, charging exorbitant fees that urgently require monitoring and strict regularization.

The media and citizens must unite to form consumer associations demanding regularization across essential sectors, including health, public transport, general travel, and electricity. Ordinary citizens are currently under unbearable pressure. Therefore, the Consumer Affairs Authority, consumer action groups, and related organizations must collaborate as a matter of urgency to regulate private hospitals and other essential institutions that impact daily life.