SL, India to enhance cooperation in health

Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena agreed on stepping up co-operation between the two countries in the health sector when they met on April 11, 2011.

Minister Sirisena	High Commissioner Kantha

The High Commissioner informed the Minister that work on the construction of a 150-bed base hospital at Dickoya, Hatton with Indian grant assistance of Rs 1,180 million commenced in March 2011 and sought the Minister's assistance in completing the work on schedule. The Minister assured the High Commissioner Sri Lanka's full cooperation.

High Commissioner Kantha also informed the Minister that India was implementing a grant assistance project for the supply of medical equipment to the two General Hospitals in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu for which tenders for equipment procurement had already been floated.

It was noted that India's project to supply medical equipment for Jaffna Teaching Hospital was completed in January 2011. The Minister expressed his appreciation for the Indian assistance.

The building of an appropriate facility to house the Bhabhatron Radiotherapy Machine at Hambantota General Hospital for cancer treatment was also discussed. The High Commissioner urged early completion of the facility since the machine was ready to be provided to Sri Lanka. India announced the gift of a Bhabhatron Radiotherapy Machine to Sri Lanka at the IAEA General Conference held in September 2010.

Recalling the long-standing cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector between India and Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner said that India had a well-established and vibrant pharmaceuticals industry, which was committed to supplying quality drugs at affordable prices.

India had emerged as a leading global exporter of generic drugs and other pharmaceutical products. Indian companies had exported drugs worth over $10 billion, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals last year, with a large proportion of exports going to markets in advanced economies.

The High Commissioner suggested that careful delineation of technical standards and selection of companies was essential in the tendering process and proposed that a delegation from the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL) visit Sri Lanka to meet local health authorities regarding the procedure adopted by Sri Lanka for sourcing pharmaceuticals from India.

The High Commissioner invited the Minister to visit India, who responded positively.