Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence, and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University have signed a tripartite agreement to expand cardiac surgery services and reduce patient waiting lists by utilizing KDU's underutilized medical facilities.
A tripartite agreement was signed on August 25 between the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and Mass Media, and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) to address the significant backlog of patients awaiting cardiac and thoracic surgery treatment across the country.
Under the new arrangement, specialist doctors and clinical staff from the National Hospital of Sri Lanka will travel to KDU Teaching Hospital to perform cardiac surgeries and deliver specialized treatment to patients on waiting lists. According to the Health Ministry, KDU Teaching Hospital is equipped with modern operating theatres and advanced medical equipment that have not been fully utilized due to insufficient specialist clinical personnel available at the facility.
By combining KDU's infrastructure with the expertise of National Hospital medical teams, authorities expect to increase surgical capacity and accelerate treatment timelines for patients currently awaiting procedures. The collaboration seeks to make more efficient use of existing resources within the country's healthcare system.
The agreement was formalized by Health and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha, and KDU Vice Chancellor Rear Admiral H.G.U. Dammika Kumara.
