Japan grants $ 5.5 m worth medical equipment to National Hospital and Ragama Teaching Hospital

• Move aimed at strengthening sustainable medical system under current economic crisis

Japanese Ambassador Mizukoshi on Thursday handed over JPY 800 million ($ 5.5 million) worth of medical equipment to the National Hospital in Sri Lanka (NHSL) and Ragama Teaching Hospital in the presence of the Health Minister Rambukwella, to help establish a sustainable medical system adaptable to the current economic crisis and strengthen the readiness against COVID-19.

Japan has provided modern Japanese medical equipment including MRI, CT scanner, Angiography, central monitor, and bedside monitors. 

These items of equipment will also be utilised to inspect and treat people with chronic illnesses such as non-communicable diseases, which are serious challenges as the largest cause of death in Sri Lanka. 

The CT scanner is the first of its kind to be introduced at the National Hospital in Sri Lanka and installed in its newly established Open Patient Department, which can treat around 1,500 outpatients per day on average.  

“We hope that the new set of equipment will help to provide advanced and sustainable medical services to the people of Sri Lanka who are in need under the current unprecedented challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemic as well as grave economic predicament,” Ambassador Mizukoshi said.