The Cabinet has approved a proposal to sign a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand cardiac and thoracic surgery services at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka by using facilities at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Teaching Hospital.
The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, with the agreement to be entered into by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media and KDU.
According to the Cabinet decision, the KDU Teaching Hospital has modern facilities, advanced medical equipment and adequate physical capacity, but its resources are not being fully utilised due to a shortage of specialised clinical staff.
Meanwhile, the cardiac and thoracic surgery unit at the National Hospital functions as the country’s leading national centre for such procedures, with highly specialised medical personnel, advanced technology and modern facilities. However, increasing demand for surgery has resulted in a lengthy waiting list.
Under the proposed arrangement, facilities at the cardiac and thoracic surgery unit of the KDU Teaching Hospital will be used to perform surgeries and provide specialist treatment to patients currently on the National Hospital’s waiting list.
The initiative is intended to expand the capacity of the National Hospital’s cardiac and thoracic surgery services and provide timely treatment to patients awaiting surgery. (Newswire)