Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva opened a new hospital and home care service to provide cost effective short-term care for middle and lower middle class patients in Kollupitiya last week.

This hospital will initially operate an OPD, laboratory and pharmacy and provide facilities for investigations such as ECG, provision for minor surgical procedures, home care service for the elderly and disabled with regular home visits by trained medical officers beginning immediately.

It will also provide a system of health education for diabetics, hypertensives, arthritics Well Baby and Well Women clinic together with a geriatric clinic providing families with instructions to prevent home accidents of the elderly and also keep them happy and content.

A spokesman for the hospital said that an immunization centre with all modern facilities will also be available.

In addition to the Health Minister, several parliamentarians, consultant physicians and surgeons, the religious clergy and heads of pharmaceutical companies, banks and company executives were present for the opening.