Sri Lanka, June 9 -- As far as heart patients are concerned, it is difficult to claim that Sri Lanka provides a truly free healthcare service. In Colombo, there is a lengthy waiting list for angiograms, with some patients having to wait more than ten months for this essential diagnostic procedure. During such a prolonged delay, a patient's condition may worsen significantly, and in some cases, the consequences could be fatal.

I am aware of a patient who was diagnosed with a heart condition in January this year but was given an appointment only in October for an angiogram. This raises serious concerns about the accessibility and timeliness of critical cardiac care within the public health system.

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