(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Kandy Teaching Hospital, the second largest medical center in the country, expanding its services has been declared as the Kandy National Hospital, the second national hospital after the National Hospital of Colombo.
The Kandy Teaching Hospital today became the second National Hospital in Sri Lanka following its development according to a proposal of Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine.
The 2,500-bed Kandy National Hospital will provide medical services to 60 percent of the population covering seven provinces in the country. The hospital will serve patients not only from the Central Province but also from Sabaragamuwa, Uva, North Central Province, North Western Province, Northern Province and Eastern Province.
Established as an allergy control hospital in 1861, the Kandy General Hospital has been upgraded to a national hospital with all facilities.
Kandy National Hospital is also the school for medical faculty students of the University of Peradeniya, Medical Officers attached to the Postgraduate Medical Faculty of the Colombo Medical College and Post Graduate Trainees to receive training. The Kandy School of Nursing is also administered by the National Hospital of Kandy.
All the major specialties including pediatrics, gynecology & obstetrics, cardiology, neurology, nephrology, ophthalmology (eye), oncology (cancer), and psychiatry are available at the Kandy National Hospital. The Hospital also has 69 other special facilities including treatment for complex orthopedic conditions, snake-bites and for those who attempt self-harm.
The first heart transplant in the history of surgery in Sri Lanka was performed on July 7, 2017 in the Kandy Hospital. Subsequently, a special unit for transplantation was implemented on a proposal by the present Minister of Health, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.
The Surgical Unit of the Kandy General Hospital consists of three consultancy units and six patient care wards.
A 24-hour cardiac surgery unit that performs heart surgeries continually providing high-cost stents free to patients has also been established. This unit with a team of specialists is equipped with all the state-of-the-art facilities.
The 10-storied Laboratory Complex built with financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide laboratory services to all hospitals in the North Western, Uva, Eastern, Northern, North Central, Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.
The Cancer Ward Complex and the Treatment Unit, which was proposed by the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, also provide an immense service.
The Thalassemia Unit which is being built for the Kandy National Hospital is expected to save the lives of all children afflicted with the disease. The 8-storey Thalassemia Unit comprises operating theaters, emergency care units and all modern facilities.
Kandy National Hospital will also consist of the Emergency Service Unit built in six months with all medical equipment to respond to the increasing number of accidents, a psychiatric unit and a kidney treatment units. The Kidney Treatment Concessionary Centre which includes a dialysis center and treatment rooms will also perform kidney transplants.
A 100% safe, environmentally friendly electronic storage system keeps all patients’ records at the Kandy National Hospital.
When the Kandy Hospital won the Gold Award for Health Excellence of 2018, the hospital staff was honored as the Best Unit.
