Cabinet approves Memorandum to introduce paid wards in Govt hospitals

A proposal to introduce paid ward facilities in government hospitals where foreigners too could obtain its services has been approved by the Cabinet. 

The budget for the year 2023 had already proposed to expand the facilities of paid wards in public hospitals across the island. 

Minister Bandula Gunawardena addressing the weekly cabinet news conference said the National Insurance Trust Fund has provided health insurance cover known as Agrahara to government employees and pensioners, and a significant number of citizens have been covered through other health insurance schemes and therefore they were proposing the facility.

He said some citizens are willing to pay for private facilities within the government health care system and obtain those facilities. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella, to provide facilities for paying wards in government hospitals for Sri Lankan citizens as well as foreigners.