Japan extends Rs. 15.6 b for health and medical service improvement project

On the occasion of the President’s visit to Japan, an Exchange of Notes for the Health and Medical Service Improvement Project (Yen Loan) amounting up to Japanese Yen 10,639 million (approximately Rs. 15,619 million) was signed on 14 March in Tokyo.It was signed between Ambassador of Japan Kenichi Suganuma on behalf of the Government of Japan and Ambassador of Sri Lanka Prof. Dhamika Ganganath Dissanayake on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka in the presence of Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and President Maithripala Sirisena.

The Health and Medical Service Improvement Project will be divided into three components – construction of facilities and procurement of equipment for five tertiary hospitals (Central, North Western, North Central, Uva and Eastern Provinces), procurement of equipment for medical laboratory technologist schools and procurement of equipment for the maintenance of medical equipment.

It aims to improve the medical services for diagnosis and treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases especially cardiovascular diseases as it has been the largest cause of death accounting more than 40% of total deaths in Sri Lanka.

Japan hopes that this project would further strengthen the existing bilateral relationships and contribute significantly to enhance the social and economic development in Sri Lanka in line with its development agenda.