The Ministry of Health has appointed new directors to 17 hospitals and health institutions, including Castle Street Hospital for Women, De Soysa Hospital for Women, Mahamodara Teaching Hospital, the National Eye Hospital and Matara General Hospital.

According to the Health Ministry, the letters of appointment were presented recently at the Ministry by Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Jayatissa said the ministry would not take decisions for political advantage or popularity and that every decision would be assessed according to its contribution to the future progress of Sri Lanka’s health service and the country’s development. Some decisions may appear unfavourable in the short term, but we take them in the long-term interest of the health service, he said.

At the ceremony, Consultant Dr S. D. U. M. Ranga received appointment as Director of Castle Street Hospital for Women; Dr C. Perera as Director of De Soysa Hospital for Women; Dr K. M. Somaratne as Director of Mahamodara Teaching Hospital, also known as the German-Sri Lanka Friendship Women’s Hospital; Dr B. I. Kurukulasooriya as Director of the National Eye Hospital; and Dr J. P. Ranasinghe as Director of Matara General Hospital.

The minister also presented appointment letters to Dr A. M. S. Bandara as Provincial Director of Health Services, Sabaragamuwa; Dr N. Saravanabavan as Provincial Director of Health Services, Eastern Province; Dr A. M. T. K. Attanayake as Regional Director of Health Services, Badulla; Dr P. A. D. D. S. Ponweera as Regional Director of Health Services, Puttalam; Dr W. A. S. S. Wickrama as Regional Director of Health Services, Kandy; Dr S. T. A. P. Serasinghe as Regional Director of Health Services, Monaragala; Dr C. Murage as Regional Director of Health Services, Kalutara; Dr B. Kayalvili as Deputy Provincial Director of Health Service, North Western Province; Dr E. Rajapaksha as Director of Mental Health; Dr J. K. M. N. Jayakody as Director of the Anti-Malaria Campaign; Dr J. M. S. A. Jayasinghe as Director of the Anti-Leprosy Campaign; and Dr N. H. Dharmathilake as Director of the Food Administration Control Unit.

Congratulating the appointees, Minister Jayatissa described the appointments as an important step forward for the health service. He said the nine Deputy Director General appointments made earlier, the 17 director appointments made now, and the health administration appointments due to follow are the result of sustained work by the Ministry Secretary and senior officials.

The minister said the ministry had resolved several long-standing issues. The ministry decisions are taken with a clear policy and a long-term vision. He described the appointment of Deputy Directors General as one of the most significant measures taken by the Ministry in recent times.

Minister Jayatissa urged the new directors to understand the mandate of the government. He said it did not matter whether they had voted for the government or not, but they had a responsibility to help turn that mandate into public policy and serve the people with commitment.

He said the government put in hard work and sacrifice to recover from repeated crises. The stability during the past 18 months, including the stabilisation of the economy, was the result of that effort, he said.

The minister Jayatissa said directors, as heads of institutions and divisions, had a duty to connect health staff with the public. If an institutional head worked with strength, purpose and direction, the institution would show clear progress, he said. He also stressed the importance of implementing decisions taken at ministry and national level.

The minister said the new directors would have the environment needed to make decisions for the future development of the health service, without political interference. He said the government and the Ministry needed strong institutional heads and would grant directors a level of authority they had not enjoyed before. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s health sector is set for a major upgrade in cardiac care, with 16 state‑of‑the‑art cardiac catheterization laboratories (Cath labs) to be installed in leading hospitals islandwide this year under the instructions of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, the new facilities will be established at Colombo, Kandy, and Galle National Hospitals, as well as teaching hospitals in Batticaloa, Ratnapura, Badulla, Jaffna, Kalubowila, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, and at the Trincomalee District General Hospital.

According to the Ministry, Rs. 715 million has been allocated for four machines at Batticaloa, Ratnapura, Badulla, and Galle National Hospital.

Under the Asian Development Bank’s Health System Improvement Project, Rs. 1,188 million will fund three machines at Colombo National Hospital and one each at Kandy, Jaffna, and Kalubowila. 

In addition, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assistance will provide Rs.1,200 million for six machines, including two at Anuradhapura and one each at Kurunegala, Badulla, Kandy, and Trincomalee.

In total, Rs. 3,103 million will be spent on the project. With the new installations, the number of Cath labs in the government hospital system will rise to 26.

Currently, Cath labs are operational at Colombo, Kandy, and Galle National Hospitals, as well as at Jaffna, Kurunegala, Ragama, Kalutara, Anuradhapura, Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Children’s Hospital in Peradeniya, and Polonnaruwa District General Hospital.

The Health Ministry states the expansion will double annual treatment capacity, reduce waiting lists, and ensure 24‑hour services for heart attack patients. 

It is also expected to lower mortality and morbidity from heart disease while strengthening diagnostic and treatment capabilities nationwide. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka has introduced its first national guideline series on the use of oxygen in government hospitals, under the patronage of Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.  

The initiative, prepared by the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF, aims to standardize oxygen use in patient care and strengthen technical knowledge among medical administrators, specialists, and health professionals.

According to the Ministry of Health, Additional Secretary (Medical Services) Kumara Wickramasinghe led the compilation of the guidelines, which were formally handed over to Minister Jayatissa.

Alongside the launch, a series of training programs has begun, with 100 health professionals, including specialist doctors, set to be trained. They will then train staff at the district and provincial levels to ensure consistent practices across hospitals.

Addressing the launch event in Colombo recently, Minister Jayatissa noted that the government spends a significant sum annually on oxygen for hospital services, and emphasized that the guidelines and training programs would improve the quality and organization of patient care. 

He also highlighted that oxygen production units have already been established at Tissamaharama Base Hospital, Avissawella District General Hospital, Udugama Base Hospital, and Kegalle District General Hospital, meeting local needs and supplying surplus oxygen to other hospitals.

The event was attended by UNICEF Sri Lanka Resident Representative Emma Brigham, UNICEF Health and Nutrition Manager Abner Daniel, senior officials of the Health Ministry, hospital directors, provincial and regional health directors, medical faculty representatives, and specialist doctors. (Newswire)

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The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has proposed to establish special infant receiving centres at hospitals in all nine provinces, it was reported.

According to Daily Mirror, NCPA Chairman Udayakumara Amarasinghe said the proposed infant receiving centres will allow parents to hand over their infants without revealing their identity.

Addressing the media yesterday (13), Amarasinghe stated that the proposal pertaining to the infant receiving centres was drafted by the NCPA in 2021 in order to assist parents who are unable to bring up their newborns due to various reasons. 

Stating that the proposal was submitted to the Cabinet in 2021, Amarasinghe stated that, however, the Cabinet Office had pointed out that the proposal must be presented through the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.

NCPA Chairman Udayakumara Amarasinghe pointed out that such infant-receiving centres were popular in India, adding that it was necessary to establish such centres with the recent increase in the abandonment of infants in Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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