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The ‘ITUKAMA’ COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund has allocated Rs. 36.6 m to the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services to conduct essential PCR tests.
The fund’s Management Committee Chairman and Central Bank Governor Prof. W.D Lakshman handed over the cheque pertaining to the allocation to the Secretary to the Ministry of Health Major General Consultant Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe on Friday.
The funds will be utilised to conduct PCR tests and health security consultation programs.
A total of Rs. 34.1 million will be spent to purchase test kits for the PCR tests conducted by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura at the request of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services, while Rs. 2.5 million has been allocated to purchase emergency and essential laboratory equipment with the aim to increase the capacity of PCR tests conducted by the University of Jaffna.
The COVID-19 fund’s balance has now surpassed Rs. 1.5 billion from contributions from corporate, individual donations and direct deposits.
The COVID-19 fund’s money have been released to the Health Services Director General to facilitate measures taken to combat COVID-19, such as to purchase drugs, equipment and to conduct medical tests.