Five state-of-the-art mammography machines will go to five major hospitals across the island to enable early detection and subsequent treatment of breast cancer and other abnormal breast lumps or changes, which represent the most common conditions among women.

The Ministry of Health and Media noted that this step aims to upgrade the physical resources of the country's healthcare system and make patient care services more systematic and efficient, following the instructions and guidance of Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

Each mammography machine costs Rs. 153 million, bringing the total value of the equipment to Rs. 765 million, the Health Ministry stated.

The Health System Enhancement Project (HSEP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided financial allocations for this procurement, the Health Ministry added.

Accordingly, the new mammography machines will strengthen patient care services at five primary hospitals providing cancer treatment, namely the National Hospital of Colombo, National Hospital of Kandy, National Hospital of Karapitiya in Galle, Teaching Hospital of Anuradhapura, and Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Media arranged to provide two used mammography machines to the Trincomalee and Nuwara Eliya District General Hospitals, considering the current urgent requirements.

The island's healthcare system currently operates 16 active mammography machines at various hospitals, including the National Hospital of Colombo, National Hospital of Karapitiya in Galle, District General Hospital of Trincomalee, District General Hospital of Nuwara Eliya, and the Teaching Hospitals of Kalubowila, Peradeniya, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Ragama, Jaffna, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Badulla, Ratnapura, and Kalmunai, according to the Health Ministry.

The addition of these new units will increase the total number of active mammography machines in the country to 23.