Moolai Hospital II – The Challenge
By S. Sivathasan –July 3, 2016
S. Sivathasan
“Him I call a Mahatma whose heart bleeds for the poor” – Swami Vivekananda
“Those flushed with wealth, let them give heaps of gold, others can opt for cash grants, those who are not so endowed may shower words of blessing” – Bharathy
Swami’s words have inspired humanity for generations. Bharathy spares nobody in his invocation to munificence. Our thoughts may be high and aspirations noble. Yet harsh realities bring us down to earth. However much the sun may scorch Moolai, a park like surrounding will provide a hospitable environment. To a rational individual Moolai doubling its current land availability of five acres would seem basic. The expenses on the totality of all other assets can be easily computed by an architect and doctors conversant with the subject. A rule of thumb preliminary attempt would suffice for the moment. Needless to say, the scale will be a few hundred million rupees. At first sight itself, diaspora participants as major partners would seem vital.
Comparisons and Rising Expectations
Why should investment be so high? In the perception of those who have gone through the mill, there are three essentials of life which are necessarily high cost: Health, Education and Housing. Adding the word affordable doesn’t make them viable nor even acceptable. Having them with all complements has become a compulsion. Settling down to varying degrees of dilution is never an option.
Project for the Improvement of Central Functions of Jaffna Teaching Hospital opened in 2013
“The Jaffna Teaching Hospital now provides healthcare services to the people of the North from its renovated five storey building built through a JICA grant of Japanese Yen 2.298 Million. The new building opened on 13 February 2013 is the only tertiary care hospital for the region. It has a new operation theatre complex, a Central supply and Sterilizing Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICUs) Central Laboratory Complex, and central facilities for diagnostic imaging among other facilities. Implementation: The Ministry of Health.”
Changing World and Latecomer North
Since 1945 following on the end of World War II, the medical world has progressed phenomenally and changed visually on facilities. Internet has brought them all before our eyes. Medical miracles too are easily seen on screen. As with expanding knowledge so with rising demands and vaulting aspirations. Sri Lanka too has been in the process of modernization in the delivery of health services. Buildings and equipment display that change. A few have trickled to the North as well.
Private Sector Hospital in Jaffna
