First Lady lays foundation stone for modern cancer treatment unit

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone for the Razavi Medical Complex, a modern cancer treatment unit at the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama yesterday.

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa lays the foundation stone for the Razavi Medical Complex, a modern cancer treatment unit at the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama. Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayaka, Health Ministry Secretarty Nihal Jayathilaka, Health Service Director General Dr Palitha Mahipala, London Ahmad Tea Pvt Ltd chairman Ahmad Afshar, Executive Director Dr Ebraham Afshar and Maharagama Cancer Hospital Director Dr Kanishaka Karunaratha were also present.

Razavi Medical Complex will be built adjoining the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama at a cost of Rs 1,500 million.

Ahmad Tea Private Limited, London will grant Rs 900 million and the balance Rs 600 million will be released by the Finance and Planning Ministry on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's directive.

The construction of the unit will be completed within 18 months while the total project would be completed within two years. The medical complex will comprise state of the art outdoor patients division (OPD), two fully fledged Intensive Care Units (ICU), a doctor's training Unit, lecture halls and a cancer testing unit.

This will be built with latest cancer treatment methodologies on par with cancer treatment facilities used by developed countries.

First lady Shiranthi Rajapksa thanked Ahmad Tea Pvt Ltd for being a part of the project to help build this highly developed medical complex.

The cancer treatment complex will have 373 beds for adult cancer patients (both medical and surgical), five operating theatres, 12 surgical beds, 12 intensive care unit beds, day chemotherapy unit, indoor and outdoor pharmacies, 19 paying beds, children's ward, laundry and sterilisation department, consultants’ offices, general amenities such as consultation rooms, TV rooms and utility rooms and canteens for all floors.

Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayaka, Health Ministry Secretary Nihal Jayathilaka, Health Service Director General Dr Palitha Mahipala, London Ahmad Tea Pvt Ltd chairman Ahmad Afshar, Executive Director Dr Ebraham Afshar and Maharagama Cancer Hospital Director Dr Kanishaka Karunaratha were also present.