A tripartite agreement has been signed to expand cardiac and thoracic surgery services and reduce the long waiting list of patients at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL).
The agreement was signed on Aug. 25 between the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and Mass Media and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).
Under the programme, specialist doctors and clinical staff from the National Hospital will perform cardiac surgeries and provide specialist treatment to patients on waiting lists using facilities at the KDU Teaching Hospital.
The Health Ministry said the KDU Teaching Hospital has modern operating theatres and advanced medical equipment, but the facilities have not been used to their full capacity due to limited specialist clinical staff.
The new arrangement will allow the available facilities at KDU to be combined with the expertise of National Hospital medical teams to increase the number of surgeries performed and accelerate treatment for patients awaiting procedures.
Health and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha and KDU Vice Chancellor Rear Admiral H.G.U. Dammika Kumara were present at the signing. (Newswire)