Lanka tops health standards in region

Stanley Seneviratne, Kurunegala north group corr.

KURUNEGALA: During the last five decades, Sri Lanka has performed exceptionally well in improving its populations’ health status. The achievements as reflected in the main health indicators are comparatively far ahead of the averages of other regional countries, said Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Patrick Karunasinghe.

“The Government of Sri Lanka recognises the need to invest more in economic and social progress providing each citizen an opportunity to realise his/her full potential,” he said, addressing a workshop conducted by the Health and Social Service Unit of the Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) held at the Malpitiya Boyagane Maha Vidyalaya auditorium recently. This workshop was attended by a large number of schoolchildren, teachers, and general public.

Karunasinghe said, “the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has developed a 10 year master plan to address the priority issues in this sector. It describes the policy and framework for an innovative health system over the next decade.

The master plan has absorbed programmes stated in the Mahinda Chinthana and the millennium development goals to be achieved during the 10 year period - 2007 to 2016.

This ensuring access to quality and modern healthcare services for all with the emphasis on the needs of the lower income groups and those most vulnerable in society, will be the main focus of the health sector in the medium term 2007-2016.

There has been a steady increase in the role of the private sector in the health sector specially in relation to tertiary care services while the government has been arranging to promote both equity and efficiency of those services. The government continues however to be the key player providing free health services to those who cannot pay.

Access equity to healthcare implies greater for the low income household for whom medical need is typically greater than the middle and high income groups.

More inequalities leads in stagnating health indices. In this context the Health Ministry has made a commitment towards the policies of the government that reflect the health concerns of vulnerable population such as those in estates, remote rural areas, and conflict as well as disaster-affected areas.

The Health Ministry will be restricted to be more results-oriented and responsive to people’s needs. This will require additional resources, in terms of financial, manpower, and physical infrastructure.”