Sri Lanka, Aug. 14 -- More than 25,000 patients across Sri Lanka are currently awaiting heart surgeries, major surgical procedures and essential medical tests, with the waiting list for some heart operations reportedly extending as far as 2029, raising fresh questions over the Government's response to the country's growing healthcare backlog.

Doctors' Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights President Specialist, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa said it was regrettable that despite the Government announcing that funds from the President's Fund would be used to reduce waiting lists, the programme had not yet been actively implemented.

He said the situation was particularly concerning for poor and needy patients who could not afford to seek ...