Sri Lanka allocates Rs 2,000 million for developing Karapitiya Teaching Hospital

The Health Ministry has allocated Rs 2,000 million for the development of Karapitiya Teaching Hospital this year.

Health Minister Dr Ramesh Pathirana said that the measures have already been taken to increase bed capacity and other healthcare facilities of Karapitiya Teaching Hospital and Rs. 2000 million have already been allocated for the purchase of medical equipment and construction of buildings.

The Minister expressed these views while participating as the Chief Guest at the 11th anniversary celebration of Karapitiya Kidney Protection Society. The event was held at the auditorium of the Galle District Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Galle recently.

The Health Minister said that it has been three years since the construction work of the ten storied surgical unit building of Karapitiya Hospital has stopped. Rs. 600 million required to complete this and measures have already been taken to allocate these funds to the Central Engineering Bureau and the related contract was handed over by a Cabinet decision last week. Rs. 300 million is required to complete the dental surgery unit and that that amount has been given this year. Funds have been given to complete the construction activities of the stroke unit. Funds have been given for the renovation and painting of the entire hospital. The Higher Education Ministry has expedited the allocations given to the professor unit and this unit will also be completed this year.

He also said that the funds have already been allocated to establish a new cardiac catheterization unit, catlab and also to purchase MRI scanner machine, CT scanner machine, etc.

Apart from that Rs. three million has been given to each regional hospital in the district, office of the health medical officer and district hospitals. Balapitiya and Elpitiya hospitals have been given Rs. 100 million each and Rs. 200 crore. He also said that Rs. 800 million have been given to Udugama Hospital, he said.

The Karapitiya Kidney Protection Society was established on February 4, 2013 and under the theme Lend a Hand to save the life of kidney patients, the association works to save and uplift the lives of kidney patients. The first kidney surgery was performed in Karapitiya Hospital in November 2012, after which this association was formed and steps were taken to establish a kidney treatment unit with nine floors in Karapitiya Hospital.

School equipment worth about Rs.10,000 was given to the children of kidney patients, donors were evaluated and the officials of association were evaluated and given plaques and the official theme song of the association was also launched.

Southern Province Governor Dr Willy Gamage, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Media Spokesperson Nihal Talduwa, Southern Province Army Commander Major General Janaka Ranasinghe, Ruhunu University Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Lanka Dasanayake, former Karapitiya Hospital Director Dr Shelton Perera, Karapitiya Hospital Deputy Director Dr Harshani Ubesekera, Southern Province Chief Ministry Secretary Krishantha Mahendra, Prison Commissioner Jagath Weerasinghe, Karapitiya Kidney Care Association President Karunadasa Weeraratne, kidney disease specialist Dr Sanjay Heianthuduwa and a group of kidney patients were present. Dailynews