
In a major boost to healthcare in the North Central Province, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has announced the construction of a six-storey Emergency and Treatment Unit at the Thambuttegama Base Hospital marking a transformative milestone for the only Grade A base hospital in the Anuradhapura District.
The minister made this announcement during a recent inspection of the hospital, stating that Phase 1 of the project will be funded in the upcoming national budget, with construction planned in two stages. He emphasized the importance of enhancing both infrastructure and services to provide high-quality care to the local population.
Thambuttegama Base Hospital, established in 1986 under the Mahaweli Development Programme, currently operates with a 240-bed capacity and a staff strength of nearly 400. It handles a staggering 150,000 outpatient visits and over 5,000 surgeries annually, including nearly 1,000 complex operations often exceeding its current bed capacity.
Dr. Jayatissa highlighted that this development is part of a comprehensive plan to elevate healthcare standards in rural areas, and confirmed that the central government will fully support the hospital’s physical and technological upgrade.
He instructed the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr. Prabath Jayakody, to immediately provide a list of required medical equipment so that the hospital can streamline and improve patient care services.
Addressing a key concern, the minister noted the acute shortage of medical personnel, from specialist doctors to support staff. He assured that new recruits, returning doctors completing foreign training, and staff finishing internships would be appointed to strengthen hospital operations.
During his extensive walkthrough of the facility, Dr. Jayatissa visited and evaluated the OPD, clinic zones, wards, pharmacy, emergency unit, kitchen, drug store, dialysis unit, labs, blood bank, and staff quarters. He also engaged in deep discussions with the management, medical officers, nursing staff, and other employees to understand and resolve staff grievances, offering short-, medium-, and long-term solutions to improve their working conditions.
One of the key issues discussed was the worrying nutritional status of children and mothers in the Anuradhapura district. As part of the ministry’s response, nutrition programs will be expanded, logistical issues related to the distribution of Thriposha will be addressed, and transportation and operational problems faced by field health officers will be reviewed.
Efforts will also be intensified to manage both communicable and non-communicable diseases, with the minister pledging full cooperation with the Directors of Health Services of the North Central Province and Anuradhapura District.
With this ambitious initiative, the government hopes to transform Thambuttegama Base Hospital into a modern regional hub for healthcare reducing patient overflow, improving medical services, and making healthcare more accessible to the rural population.
This development isn’t just another hospital upgrade it’s a signal that quality healthcare is no longer a privilege of major cities, but a right for every Sri Lankan citizen, regardless of geography.