The Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Ministry has accelerated the construction work of the National Thalassemia Hospital at the Kandy General Hospital premises at a cost of Rs. 2,000 million. The eight storey hospital will be commissioned before the end of 2019.
Around 3,000 thalassemia patients have been detected in the country this year and the government spends Rs. 1,700 million annually on providing healthcare facilities for them.
A large number of thalassemia patients were detected in Anuradhapura, Pollonaruwa, Kurunegala, Badulla, Hambantota, Matara, Galle and Batticaloa. The largest number of patients was reported from Kurunegala. The country has 14 thalassemia treatment centres and clinics.
Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratna said bone marrow transplant surgeries will be carried out at the new hospital to save 3,000 thalassemia patients.
While a private hospital performs a born marrow transplant at a minimum cost of Rs. 40 million, the new Thalassemia Hospital will carry out the same at Rs. 1 million or less than that at the government expense, the Minister said.