Paediatric Oncology Unit in Karapitiya Hospital not in operation for two years

 

The child cancer patients, who are being admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle have undergone several difficulties as a result of the absence of a qualified Paediatric Oncologist in the hospital.

The Paediatric Oncology Unit of Karapitiya Teaching Hospital is the only Paediatric Oncology Unit with a fully equipped ward complex of modern technology at a hospital in Sri Lanka, apart from the Maharagama ‘Apeksha’ Cancer Hospital.

It has reportedly been two years since residential treatments for many children and also clinical treatments for almost 250 children with life-risk have been halted due to the absence of a qualified Paediatric Oncologist.

Thus, many children in the Eastern, Uva and Southern Provinces have reportedly had to be referred to the Children’s Unit of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital for emergency treatment.