Kandy Teaching Hospital performs heart surgeries

By Anura Maitipe

The Cardiothorasic unit built at a cost of Rs. 850 million at the Kandy Teaching Hospital commenced performing heart surgeries last week, Minister of Health and Nutrition, Nimal Siripala de Silva told the Sunday Observer.

The unit was constructed with the funds allocated by the consolidated fund and the equipment was provided with financial assistance from French government, he said.

"The cardiothorasic unit will be a boon to over 2,000 children who are on the waiting list to undergo heart surgery. The services of this unit will be made available for children", he said.

Over one billion rupees is spent by the President's Fund annually for heart surgeries at private hospitals. The number of patients awaiting heart surgery at the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital will be reduced, The Minister said.

"When I was appointed the Minister of Health, cardiothorasic surgeries were conducted only at the National Hospital, Colombo. Within a short spell we were able to set up two units, one Karapitiya and the other at Kandy" hospital, the Minister said.

According to hospital sources, this unit had been built and equipped four years ago. But consultant surgeons who were appointed have not shown any interest in commencing surgeries at the unit. As a result the unit was defunct for four years.