A pilot project to provide nutritious, customised meals for in-patients has been launched for the first time at a government hospital, with the initiative commencing at the Apeksha Hospital Maharagama on Monday (6).
Under the programme, in-patients will receive balanced and nutritious meals served on specially designed customised plates, with rice, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs and other items served separately to improve both nutritional value and appetite.
Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the initiative aims to enhance patient satisfaction and recovery by improving the quality and presentation of hospital food.
Speaking at the launch, the minister also announced the establishment of a new national task force to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with initial discussions scheduled to be held this week. He said the task force will operate with coordination among the Health Ministry, other ministries, institutions, the private sector, civil society and the media.
The task force will focus on diseases such as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, respiratory illnesses and diabetes, while integrating existing national programmes to strengthen prevention and treatment efforts, the minister said.
The pilot project is being implemented by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media with the support of the Sri Lanka College of Nutrition Physicians and the Sri Lanka Nutrition Medical Association.
As part of the initiative, a newly constructed modern kitchen facility—renamed as the Food and Beverages Department instead of a conventional kitchen—was also declared open at the hospital. The facility is capable of preparing meals for up to 2,000 patients at a time.
The kitchen was built at a cost of nearly Rs. 10 million with donations from the Katharagama Devalaya and labour support from the Sri Lanka Army Engineering Services Regiment.
Staff attached to the new department have received specialised training in modern food preparation and service standards, officials said.
Minister Jayatissa said non-communicable diseases remain the country’s biggest health challenge, noting that around 300,000 patients visit clinics at Apeksha Hospital annually, with nearly 100,000 receiving in-patient care. He added that Sri Lanka records about 35,000 new cancer cases each year, of which approximately 11,000 patients receive treatment at Apeksha Hospital.
He said the government allocates its highest healthcare expenditure towards controlling non-communicable diseases.
Based on the success of the pilot project, the programme is expected to be expanded to other government hospitals, with the minister inviting institutions and donors to support similar initiatives nationwide.
Several nutrition guidelines prepared by the Sri Lanka Nutrition Medical Association were also unveiled during the event.
The event was attended by religious leaders, Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni, Members of Parliament, local government representatives, hospital officials, medical specialists, healthcare staff and donors. (Newswire)