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The150th anniversary:
National Hospital to conduct heart transplant operations
by Dulmin Samarasinghe
The National Hospital of Sri Lanka provides invaluable service to the
public. Inaugurated 150 years ago, in 1864, it strives to give quality
health care services to the nation. Doctors, nurses and other staff
treat thousands of people daily at the hospital. Patients with various
ailments from all over the country are treated there. People trust the
treatment they receive at the hospital as they bring patients with
serious ailments, believing that they would be cured somehow with the
expertise of the hospital staff and with its modern facilities. It is
ready to handlea large number patients in an emergency. Although the
treatment is provided free, as per the government policy, it is done
with a huge cost. The National Hospital (NH) plans to mark its 150 of
service to the nation on a grand scale.
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Dr. Anil Jasinghe |
It was named Pettah Hospital on Kumar Street and later moved to the
present location to treat civilians, said Director of the NH, Dr. Anil
Jasinghe. The history of the hospital from 1864 to 1903 is not clear but
efforts are being made to find it by vising places such as National
Library, Lake House Library and National Archives, he said. The Victoria
Memorial building was built in 1903, which is one of the landmark
buildings in the hospital. The present Radiology Department built is
housed in another historic building, "The White House". It is believed
to be the Out Patient Department in the past.
The Merchant Ward is 95 years old and has a Lift operated, even now,
using ropes. The patients are taken to the upper floor of the ward by
this Lift made in England. It is a smooth operation although, at first,
it does not, look so. Another landmark, the Bandaranaike building has
been built in 1958 and it will be renovated as a part of the
anniversary. The NH has been developed speedily after 1958. Dr. Jasinghe
said that what began as a small hospital later identified as the General
Hospital Colombo, and now as the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Various
committees have been formed and given tasks to accomplish during the
anniversary year.
There are 3,500 beds, 18 Intensive Care Units and 21 Operating
Theatres at present. The number of doctors are 1,500 which includes a
staff of 7,500 in this hospital, built on 36 acres. Nurse's Training
School, Post Basic Nurse's Training School, School of Physiotherapy,
School of Radiography, School of Eco Cardiograph, Maligawatte Kidney
hospital and Dental Institute are under the NH. Asia's oldest medical
school, Colombo Medical Faculty also comes under this hospital.
This hospital is the final referral centre for patients. It has all
specialties except paediatrics and maternity care as those are handled
by two other specialist hospitals. The NH hopes to do Liver, Kidney and
Heart transplants this year. Dr, Jasinghe said that the hospital had a
special development phase during the last 6 years. Neuro Trauma building
was built in 2011. President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the 9 storied, 3
medical block last year. Another such building is under construction for
the Epilepsy unit and for the Dental Institute.
The foundation stone for the new Out Patient Department(OPD) will be
laid this year as the present place is not enough for about 3,000 OPD
patients and about the same number of clinical patients who come there
daily. It will be built with Chinese aid.
The hospital aims to develop the capacity of the staff by introducing
programs to motivate them. A health screening program is in progress for
the staff where their Body Mass Index is accounted and advised to suit
their health conditions. Two libraries, one for the doctors and one for
other staff will be built.
The patient care will be enhanced along with the infrastructure
development. Regent street will be modernised so that the patients
brought in trolleys will not be inconvenienced. Battery operated
trolleys to take patients will be introduced.
Dr. Jasinghe said that the assistance of Defense Secretary Gotabaya
Rajapaksa will be sought to renovate the historic buildings in side the
hospital.
The hospital land is divided to 6 zones and landscaping and
maintenance have been given to 5 banks and for a gem company. Dr.
Jasinghe said that individuals or private sector organisations can
contribute to such activities. They can maintain buildings and wards, he
said.
A fiber optic cable is laid from one end to the other end of the
hospital connecting all sections of the hospital.
As a preliminary step laboratories will be linked to the wards so
that the results will be available on screens. The number, 1959 has been
taken and it will be used to create an information hub.
The cable has been laid in the OPD. Nurses and graduates have been
trained and in future patients can get information when they come to the
hospital.
The information hub will be used in future for services such as to
get information when transferring a patient from an out station
hospital. The web site of the hospital will be re-launched and it will
be made interactive so that patients and the public can exchange their
views.
A Lab Management Information System(LMIS) will be introduced along
with the information hub.Dr. Jasinghe said that the main ceremony of the
150 anniversary will be held by the end of this year under the patronage
of the President. A stamp and first day cover will be issued by the
postal department to mark the event. A song for the hospital will be
composed and a documentary film will be produced about the history of
the hospital. A walk similar to a parade will be held towards the end of
the year.
A secretariat for 150 anniversary has been established and any
physiotherapists who are interested in contributing to the development
of health care can get information by contacting the coordinator, Dr.
Mrs. Ramya Premarathne on 07773878900, 0112685815, 0112691111-ext-3623.
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