Hospital Services Council donates medical equipment to National Hospital

Dr. Ranasinghe handing over medical equipment to Ven. Subhuti Thero as a donation to the National Hospital  -  PIC BY DAMITH WICKRAMASINGHE

The Hospital Services Council (HSC) in Colombo donated a set of medical equipment to the National Hospital Sri Lanka (NHSL), Maligawatte Kidney Hospital and the Eye Hospital, under the patronage of  Dr. Kanchanamala Ranasinghe, General Practitioner  at the Cannon Hill Doctors and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Griffith University Australia on December 23 at the Vipassi Buddhist Centre at the National Hospital premises.   

The Ven.Rajawelle Subhuti Thera,The Honorary Director- Hospital Services Council and Director of NHSL,Dr.Kumara Wickramasinghe extended their heartfelt gratitude to Dr.Ranasinghe and others in Brisbane,who had taken the initiative   to send medical equipment to Sri Lanka from Australia.   

HSC and its services

The HSC is a non- profit organization which was established in 1984 under the patronage of The late Most Ven. Madihe Pagnaseeha Maha Nayaka Thera and under the direction of the late Most Ven.Panwila Vipassi Thera.   

Since then, with the vision ‘To become the first Centre of Excellence towards a Healthy Society’, the HSC has been rendering its immense services to the needy at the National Hospital and other hospitals.   

Addressing the media, Ven.Subhuti Thera encouraged all Sri Lankan communities living abroad to join hands with these types of charitable projects after witnessing this charitable work live stream or otherwise.   

Present Services of HSC

• Purchase and provide helpless and poverty-stricken patients with prescribed medicines that are not available in the hospital.  
• Provide assistance for those in need to obtain medical treatment from external sources.  
• Provide travel expenses to needy patients visiting the hospital from faraway places.  
• Supply items required by hospital wards.  
• Provide wheelchairs, crutches, walking aids, diapers, air mattresses, optical frames and other orthopedic items, etc to needy patients.   
• Provide clothes, milk, food, tea, sugar, biscuits etc to those in need.  
• Conduct religious activities to enhance and improve the mental well-being of patients.   

Administration

The administrative activities of the HSE are handled under the direction of The Ven. Rajawelle Subhuti Thera, the Honorary Director of Hospital Services Council. The advisory board comprised of the Honorable Minister of Health and Nutrition, Deputy Director-General of the Nation Hospital Sri Lanka (NHSL) and the Chief Nursing Officer.   

All activities related to HSC are carried out by the Hon. President of HSC, with the help of the executive board. Monthly meetings are convened together with the executive board and Board of Management through supervision and planning. In terms of decision implementation, there are three committees formed namely; Human Services Committee, Promotional Services Committee and Media and Mass Communication Services Committee.The administrative tasks are performed in a professional manner ensuring transparency.   

Dr Kanchanamala  Ranasinghe- the benefactor

Speaking to Daily Mirror, Dr. Ranasinghe recalled the times where she had been collecting clothing and toys and had wanted to send them to Sri Lanka. Later, through two Sri Lanka residents in Brisbane, she had come to know of the Hospital Services Council in Sri Lanka, run by Ven. Subhuti Thera and had sent the collected items to Sri Lanka to be distributed among the needy in the National hospital.   

She also acknowledged the help received from Spur Queensland organization headed by Sarath Weerasinghe, who had extended his help in facilitating the shipment to Sri Lanka.   

“Each individual may be able to help differently, together we can do a lot” was the message that came from Dr. Ranasinghe.