Closed hospitals to be re-opened
Ninety seven hospitals in the country are currently in a state of
closure due to the non-availability of doctors, Health Minister
Maithreepala Sirisena said during a visit to Kantale Hospital yesterday.
He said of them 80 hospitals are in the North and the East and the
balance 17 are in Nuwara Eliya and Hambantota districts.
The Minister said he hoped to revive these hospitals from next year
to offer a better service to people in backward areas. He invited trade
unions to strengthen his hands in this difficult task.
Appointments to 270 new doctors are scheduled to be made next year
and the Minister said some of the new doctors will be posted to these
hospitals. The reasons for the closure of North and East hospitals had
been the refusal of doctors to serve in these areas during the conflict.
(MF)
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