A new CT scan machine installed at the Negombo District General Hospital at a cost of Rs. 177 million, funded through an Asian Development Bank (ADB) concessional loan facility, has been officially commissioned for patient care.

Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa attended the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday (07), marking the addition of the new equipment to the hospital’s diagnostic services.

According to the Minister, the new CT scanner is expected to significantly strengthen diagnostic services at the hospital, which serves a large number of patients from Negombo and surrounding areas.

The facility will also eliminate the need for patients requiring CT scans to be referred to the Ragama Teaching Hospital and Welisara Hospital, reducing travel time and expenses while improving access to essential medical services.

Meanwhile, an eye clinic building at the hospital, renovated at a cost of Rs. 29 million through contributions from donors and benefactors under the initiative of Rev. Fr. Darel Coonghe, was also officially opened for patient care.

Minister Jayatissa also inspected a fitness centre established within the hospital premises by the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media at a cost of Rs. 10 million.

The Minister subsequently toured the hospital premises to assess the concerns and requirements of healthcare staff and patients awaiting treatment. (Newswire)

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Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa is to be questioned by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) over the deposit of Rs. 10 million from the National Savings Bank into the Siriliya Saviya account, which she headed, it was reported.

According to state newspaper Dinamina, the investigation concerns the alleged misuse of funds collected under the claim of purchasing a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo. It has since been revealed that the scanner was donated free of charge by the Chinese government.

The FCID’s Financial Crimes Investigation Unit has already questioned bank officials and members of the then Board of Directors regarding the deposit. It was disclosed that the money was transferred following a written request made by Siriliya Saviya into its accounts maintained at Maradana and Suduwella branches.

A senior police officer has stated that since Rs. 10 million was obtained from a state bank for the purchase of the CT scanner but not used for the intended purpose, investigations are underway to determine what happened to the money. 

He added that although Shiranthi Rajapaksa was scheduled to be questioned, she was reported to be unwell at the time, and questioning will take place later.

The officer further stated that several questionable matters exist regarding the Siriliya Saviya account, and investigations are continuing. 

He also revealed that Shiranthi Rajapaksa had already been questioned for more than four hours on February 3 regarding the account. (Newswire)

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Patients and healthcare staff have been severely inconvenienced due to the breakdown of Computed Tomography (CT) scanners in seven government hospitals, according to the Government Radiological Technologists Association.

The Association states that out of the CT scanners in 44 hospitals, seven have completely broken down.

CT scanners at Ratnapura General Hospital, Karawanella Base Hospital, Embilipitiya District Hospital, the Cancer Unit of Hambantota General Hospital, Base Hospital – Kalmunai North, the Outpatient Department of Colombo National Hospital, and Kalutara General Hospital have malfunctioned, the Association said.

Stating that the lives of patients are at risk under the current circumstances, the Association pointed out that high costs have also been incurred due to transporting patients to other hospitals for scan reports.

Speaking to the media, the President of the Government Radiological Technologists Association Chanaka Dharmawickrama revealed that it had been many years since some of these CT scanners had broken down.

He also pointed out that Karawanella Base Hospital has spent between Rs. 3-4 million per month, transporting patients to other hospitals for CT scan reports.

Chanaka Dharmawickrama said that according to statistics, one hospital alone has spent over Rs. 15 million in five months for this purpose. (Newswire)

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