Plans are underway to bring the Tellippalai Cancer Hospital in Jaffna District under the administration of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, with an interim Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) proposed to ensure cooperation between the central and Northern Provincial administrations until the transition is completed.
The agreement was reached during a discussion held at the Northern Province Governor’s Secretariat on Tuesday evening, October 20, with the participation of a delegation led by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health.
Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayahan emphasised that there was no disagreement over the need to develop and improve the Tellippalai Cancer Hospital. He noted that maintaining and developing the facility required substantial funding and that upgrading its services and facilities was essential, given that patients travel there from various parts of the country.
The Governor also highlighted practical and administrative challenges in bringing provincial hospitals under the Central Ministry of Health, citing legislation introduced during the Provincial Council period. However, referring to a decision taken at the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting, he said steps could be taken specifically to bring the Tellippalai Cancer Hospital under the central ministry.
Responding to the concerns, the Ministry of Health delegation explained that although cancer hospitals elsewhere in the country had undergone development, the Tellippalai facility faced difficulties in securing funding and implementing administrative measures because it operates alongside the Tellippalai Base Hospital, which remains under the provincial administration.
The delegation further noted that access to essential healthcare facilities and resources could remain challenging until the hospital is formally transferred to the central ministry.
As a temporary solution, the officials proposed an MoU between the central and provincial administrations to facilitate resource sharing and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services during the transition period.
Following the discussion, the Governor and provincial administrative officials agreed to proceed with arrangements to bring the hospital under the Ministry of Health in the future. They also agreed to establish an interim cooperation framework between the two administrations and submit a Cabinet memorandum to facilitate the next steps.
The meeting was attended by the Northern Province Chief Secretary, the Governor’s Secretary, the Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Health, the Deputy Chief Secretary responsible for Finance, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Deputy Director General of Planning, the Director and Deputy Director of Jaffna Teaching Hospital, the Northern Province Director of Health Services, the Jaffna Regional Director of Health Services, and a medical specialist from the Tellippalai Cancer Hospital, among other officials.
The proposed arrangement is intended to address the hospital’s immediate operational and development needs while formal steps are taken towards placing it under central government administration.
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