Special ward for clergy at State hospitals

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

All state hospitals to be built, in the future will have a special ward for Bhikkus and clergy. Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva made this decision after considering the requests made by the Buddhist clergy, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, Minister De Silva ordered that a special ward be built for Bhikkus at the proposed building complex at Kandy Teaching Hospital at a cost of Rs. 650 million.

The original plan of the building did not have a special ward for Bhikkus. After inspecting the plan, Minister De Silva ordered to add a special ward to the plan after launching the construction work on Thursday.

The special Bhikku wards to be built at all new state hospitals will have all modern facilities.

The special ward will have all facilities and 12 beds. The seven storeyed new building complex will have 204 beds, x-ray lab, ECG unit, Endoscopy unit, Radiology Unit, ordinary wards and paying wards.

The large number of patients who receive healthcare services from this hospital will benefit from this project.

The Ministry has also provided two Rs.14 million worth ambulances to Peradeniya and Kandy Teaching Hospitals. Another Rs.4 million granted to buy life saving equipment.