The Chilaw General Hospital’s Cancer Clinic is to conduct clinical consultations over video technology, Director Dr. Kapila Mallawarachchi said. “Considering the present health guidelines that patients are to follow to reduce the contraction of Covid-19, our Oncology Clinic decided to conduct clinic sessions over video calls. Being the only oncology clinic for the entire Puttalam District, the clinic sees about 2,000 patients attend the monthly clinics. To safeguard them from further ailments, we are now conducting clinics via video technology,” he noted. Dr. Mallawarachchi believes that this will save money and time for patients who have to travel long distances to attend the clinic at the Chilaw General Hospital and would improve the efficiency of the clinic sessions as well. Upon the end of the consultation, the hospital is to arrange the delivery of the necessary prescription medicines to the patients’ homes as well. This will be the first such initiative taken by a state-owned hospital, and Dr. Mallawarachchi intends to introduce this system to other medical clinics as well. The new system was introduced by Dr. Nurah Joseph and Oncologist Dr. Rafad Jamaldeen. When asked whether such initiatives will be supported and encouraged in the future, an official at the Ministry of Health, Nutrition, and Indigenous Medical Services stated that such initiatives are always welcomed, but will be implemented according to the requirements and capacities of each clinic/ hospital. If funding is required, the hospitals will have to inform the Ministry and it shall be approved after the requirement is assessed by the relevant authorities.