Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-09-26

Improving the Cancer Treatment Unit at the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya

- Cancer has become the second major cause of death in the hospitals of Sri Lanka. Taking into consideration the recent increase in the number of Cancer patients, the Cancer Treatment Unit at the Teaching Hospital in Karapitiya, the major hospital in the Southern Province, which provides special treatment services to those patients, needs to be improved.

As such, a ten storey building with OPD, Iodine Therapy Unit, Clinics, 03 Oncology Units, Onco‑Surgical and Pediatric Oncology Units, a Laboratory and Auditorium Facilities has been planned to be constructed, in order to expand the existing Cancer Treatment Service Facilities at the Hospital. An estimated cost of Rs.2,000 million is to be incurred in respect of same. The Charitable Organization, Colours of Courage Trust (COC) has come forward to provide its contribution for the joint implementation of this project and it is expected to utilize the financial aid collected by the organization by conducting trails throughout the country, for the purpose. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senaratne, the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine and the Charitable Organization, Colours of Courage Trust (COC) to carry out the construction work of the proposed ten (10) storeyed building to expand the Cancer treatment facilities at the Teaching Hospital in Karapitiya, was approved by the Cabinet.