Sri Lanka to install 16 new heart cath labs

The Health and Mass Media Ministry will install 16 new cardiac catheterisation laboratories in government hospitals this year at a cost of 3.1 billion rupees to significantly bolster cardiac care services. Under the direction of Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the initiative expands access to advanced diagnosis and treatment for heart patients while meeting the country’s growing medical demands. These facilities allow specialists to perform angiograms, insert stents, and implant pacemakers to treat blocked arteries and heart rhythm issues.

The project utilizes funding from the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency to equip national and teaching hospitals across the island, including Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Jaffna, and Trincomalee. Once these units become operational, the total number of cath labs in the state sector will increase from 10 to 26. This expansion aims to reduce waiting lists, provide round-the-clock emergency treatment for heart attack patients, and significantly decrease mortality rates associated with heart disease.