The programme was launched yesterday (17 May) by holding several free medical camps at Welikanda with specialist doctors in attendance, quoting the Health Ministry, Daily News reported.

The programme will cover all difficult and rural areas, where the people from far away villages had to travel to Colombo spending time and money to obtain the services of specialist doctors.

Meanwhile, the Ministry will develop Polonnaruwa Hospital under its hospital development project. Tangalle Hospital too will be taken over shortly. The Ministry handed over modern medical equipment worth Rs.4 million to Polonnaruwa Hospital to mark the launching of the development programme.

Only 17 State hospitals function under the purview of the Ministry and all other State hospitals come under Provincial Councils. The Ministry is now in the process of developing one State hospital from each District with all modern facilities.