Health Minister Doctor Rajitha Senarathne says a system will be arranged for the patients to obtain special health services from the government hospitals after 4.00pm by paying a charge. Private hospitals and medical centers make money by providing health services 24 hours. However the government hospitals provide many services only about 8 hours a day.

Therefore under the new system government hospitals can also earn some income providing the services at concessionary rates. A large sum of money is spent annually on repair and maintenance of surgical equipment of the government hospitals. Minister Senarathne made these remarks at a ceremony held in the Colombo National Hospital recently to donate an MRI machine. The new MRI machine costs 300 million rupees.

The Minister further said that the national hospital will be developed by modernizing the old buildings. Government expects to expand the e-health project in 2,000 government hospitals this year.
Meanwhile the cabinet paper with regard to minimize smoking will be submitted to the cabinet next week. The World Bank and the W.H.O will introduce alternative income methods for the farmers who give up tobacco cultivation.