New hospital for Hambantota with Dutch Govt. assistance

The Ministry of Health will start construction next month to build a new state-of-the-art general hospital in the southern port city of Hambantota.

The 650-bed hospital will be built at a cost of Rs. 7 billion with the financial assistance from the Government of The Netherlands. The hospital will be equipped with modern facilities, the Ministry said.

The Hospital will have an Out Patients Department, an Emergency Treatment Unit, surgical theatres, Intensive Care Units, a judicial Medical Unit, a Pharmacy, Drug Storage facilities and laboratory facilities.

A cafeteria, a blood bank and hostels for the resident medical professionals will also be constructed in the premises.

The Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa revealed these plans when he toured the area to inspect the shortcomings in the area Hambantota District hospitals and health services and grant financial assistance to overcome the shortages.

Health officials took the initiative of making inquiries into shortcomings in hospitals in the Hambantota District on the instructions of the Health Minister. The officials inspected the Hambantota General Hospital, Tissamaharama Base Hospital, Beliatta District Hospital, Tangalle Base Hospital, and Weeraketiya Hospital.

The Health Ministry has pledged to provide the hospitals with the staff needed including doctors and nurses, equipment, and the basic necessities for building maintenance and repairs. The Netherlands has pledged concessionary financial assistance of Euro 86.49 million to develop two hospitals in Nuwara Eliya and Hambantota.