News
Hospital recovery costs may exceed Rs 21 billion
View(s):By Sajeniya Sathanandan
Hospitals are still struggling to cope with the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah, three weeks into the recovery effort, while facing endless challenges.
District General Hospital Chilaw, Base Hospital Mahiyanganaya, Divisional Hospital Wattegama, and Spring Valley Divisional Hospital Badulla were among the worst affected hospitals by floods and landslides between November 27 and December 2.
“Several hospitals, specifically hospitals located in Chilaw, Mahiyangana, and Wattegama, suffered extensive damage. We used nearby MOH (Medical Officer of Health) offices as emergency rooms and outpatient departments,” said Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni. Hospitals in Spring Valley and Nuwara Eliya suffered minor damage.
Divisional Hospital Wattegama was among the worst affected hospitals countrywide (above and below). Pix by U.S. Nimal Pathadumbara
According to the deputy minister, eight health facilities coming under provincial authorities in the Uva, North and Central provinces have been relocated. They were divisional hospitals in Kandegedara, Baddegama, Spring Valley, Lidhula, Wattegama, Idulgodakanda, the Primary Medical Care Unit Kalaganwatta, PMCU Silmiapura, and Badulla MOH.
While the total relocation cost for all eight health facilities is estimated at more than Rs 7.9 billion, five projects of these institutes cost closer to Rs 1.7 billion. The medical equipment cost allocation is Rs 64.97 million, and the cost of non-medical equipment is Rs 230 million, according to the deputy minister.
Dr Wijemuni told the Sunday Times that the Health Ministry has estimated the total recovery costs for several health institutions, with the damage to infrastructure and equipment surpassing Rs 21.1b. However, reconstruction and repair costs are also allocated for specific facilities, including Rs 2.8b for Mahiyanganaya Base Hospital, Rs 6.2b for Chilaw District Hospital, Rs 1.14b for Nuwara Eliya District Hospital and Rs 1.2b for essential repairs at various provincial hospitals.
Sri Lanka has received the supply of drugs for 2026 but is facing challenges regarding storage. The deputy minister confirmed that while stocks are damaged in Chilaw and Mahiyanganaya hospitals, they do not have any issues related to drugs. Also, if the hospitals run out of essentials, permission has been granted to use the funds that were provided to buy drugs from local companies.
The staff quarters in Chilaw and Mahiyanganaya are seen as a major concern, as the ground floors are damp and have mould and fungus. Staff are advised to rent or stay at local hotels, as the quarters are not safe.
Almost all staff quarters at Mahiyanganaya Base Hospital, including doctors’ and nurses’ quarters, were affected by the floods.
“There was no prior warning before the disaster. Beds and mattresses were destroyed at the staff quarters, and currently, they are staying at hotels or government bungalows,” Hospital Director Dr Senarath Bandara said. 
The hospital has reopened certain units except the surgical theatres. One section of the theatre has been opened for pregnant women.
Dr Bandara said about two-thirds of the drug stocks are damaged. However, the regional stores were not affected, which maintains three months of stock.
The hospital’s printer supplies unit, three beds, various blood bank equipment, X-ray unit and scan machines have suffered extensive damage.
Many patients were transferred to Memorial Hospital because the roads to other areas were not stable, Dr Bandara said.
Chilaw District General Hospital Director Dr Sumith Athanayaka said a 24-hour warning before the disaster was received, and they had time to evacuate all ground-floor patients and move valuable equipment to higher levels.
The Computed Tomography (CT) machine valued at Rs 20 million is being checked to determine if it can be repaired or if it is non-operational.
The outpatient department, clinics, medical and paediatric wards and emergency care have slowly started to work.
The operating theatres are still being repaired. As a result, the hospital cannot accept surgical, obstetric, gynaecological, or orthopaedic patients, but after two weeks it is expected to function.
Many medical reports of patients were destroyed in the flooding. Doctors must now re-examine patients and rewrite their medical histories and reports, the director said.
Due to landslides, some hospitals have been temporarily closed, and medications are provided at the MOH or Grama Niladari office.
The Divisional Hospital in Kottagoda in Hali-Ela in the Badulla District (the Badulla Spring Valley Regional Hospital) has been closed for 15 days due to a landslide risk and the collapse of a main bridge located about half a kilometre away. In the same location where the bridge was destroyed, there are fears of further earthslips.
Medicine is dispensed from a Grama Niladhari’s house, located about one kilometre away from the hospital. There are three doctors and nursing staff. While regular clinics are not held, the community is provided with medicines, said former legislator Veera Sennan.
The provincial hospital in Wattegama was temporarily closed as the access road was damaged due to landslides on November 28.
The hospital building itself has cracks, and the area has been affected by landslides. There is a landslide red alert in place because a portion of the mountain above the site has partially collapsed. The hospital is temporarily closed, Wattegama Urban Council Chairman Douglas Uyangoda told the Sunday Times.
Deputy Minister Wijemuni, who visited the area, said the local council is looking for alternative land to relocate the hospital.
Since the main building is unsafe, medical operations have been shifted temporarily from the MOH office.
(Additional reporting by U.S. Nimal in Pathadumbara)
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