Ambulances for State hospitals

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena distributed 250 new ambulances worth Rs. 2,125 million to State hospitals at a ceremony at the BMICH, Colombo yesterday.

"This is the largest ever shipment of ambulances to be distributed at one event and the project will address the shortage of ambulances in State hospitals," Health Ministry spokesperson W.M.D. Vanninayake said.

The new ambulances have been imported to Sri Lanka from Toyota Company, Japan.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will supply 124 additional ambulances to the Health Ministry under the same project. JICA will bring down its shipment of vehicles to Sri Lanka within the next two months.

Of the ambulances distributed yesterday, 120 will be allocated to hospitals run by the Central Government while 130 will be dispatched to hospitals under the purview of Provincial Authorities.

"Each State hospital will get at least one new ambulance under this project and it will help minimise deaths that occur due to delays in transferring patients," Vanninayake said.