… construction projects without proper planning is a burden

The government has allocated approximately Rs. 1.5 billion this year to partially complete four major stalled development projects at Kandy National Hospital, according to Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Dr Nalinda Jayatissa.

The minister made this announcement during a recent inspection visit to assess the progress of several incomplete development projects at the hospital.

The projects under review include the New Cancer Complex, the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, the Accident & Emergency Care Unit, and the Isolation Ward Complex.

Dr Jayatissa noted that Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector has suffered due to the initiation of numerous construction projects without proper planning, placing an unsustainable financial burden on hospitals. He stated that these unstructured developments have become a significant strain on the government, the healthcare system, and the country as a whole.

However, since these projects have already commenced, the minister stressed the importance of ensuring their completion. As a result, the government is expediting the allocation of necessary funds to bring the ongoing construction work to at least a partially operational stage.

He further stated that additional financial resources will be systematically allocated in the future to complete the Kandy National Hospital’s long-term development plan.

The minister also highlighted that while Sri Lanka currently has three national hospitals, a fourth may be required in the future, depending on population density and geographical factors.

As part of the government’s National Hospital Development Plan, efforts will be made to reduce congestion in outpatient departments and clinics by strengthening primary healthcare services. Specialised units at national hospitals will also be enhanced.

Dr Jayatissa revealed that following the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama, the new cancer complex at Kandy National Hospital will be the second-largest cancer treatment facility in Sri Lanka. The nine-storey complex is currently in its second phase of construction, and plans are in place to establish a cancer clinic and two new wards this year.

Following his inspection, Minister Jayatissa held a discussion with hospital officials, including the director and senior staff. The discussions focused on managing the hospital’s heavy patient load, as Kandy National Hospital operates with 2,741 beds, 75 wards, and 52 clinics, catering to around 4,000 outpatients daily.

Several key issues were addressed, including reducing congestion in outpatient departments, streamlining specialist consultations, minimising waiting lists for cardiac surgeries, improving vehicle parking facilities, reclaiming illegally occupied hospital land, and addressing staff shortages, particularly among specialist doctors, medical officers, and nurses. The minister instructed officials to develop a structured plan to resolve these challenges efficiently.

The inspection was attended by Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Hansaka Wijemuni, Central Province Health Services Director Dr Nihal Weerasooriya, Deputy Director-General of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, Peradeniya Hospital Director H.M. Arjuna Tilakaratne, Acting Director of Kandy National Hospital Dr Chandana Wijesinghe, along with specialist doctors, medical officers, and other healthcare professionals.