He made these comments yesterday (17th Sept.) at a ceremony held to celebrate International Patient Safety Day. 

The first safety measure of free health services is enjoyed by our people said the minister. He said in the developed world there is no free health service but an insurance system, which is not practiced in Sri Lanka.

Under the free health system, free medicine for cancer patients, stents for heat patients, eye lenses are given free of charge, he added.

The medicines are protected from the port to the stores to provide quality drugs to the patients .The National Drug Regulatory Authority is paying attention to it and nobody can pressure them as they are a independent organization.

We have to develop the health sector more by adopting precautionary measures. In ensuring patient safety, prevention is also very important, he added.