National Health Policy proposed by SLMA

Edward Arambewala

The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has proposed to the government the formulation of a National Health Policy in consultation with professional organisations and relevant health bodies to achieve the highest attainable health status for the people by responding to their needs, by working in partnership with the community to ensure access to comprehensive, high quality, equitable cost-effective and sustainable health care services to them.

In a draft on this policy compiled by the National Health Policy Committee of the SLMA, chaired by Prof. Lalitha Mendis, President SLMA.

Among the key proposals made are the drafting of a - Patients Rights Charter and the setting up of a mechanism to prevent and expeditiously resolve health secret issues relating to the work force thus saving health sector from work stoppages, strikes sick-note protests etc.

Prof. Mendis, writing on this in the SLMA news bulletin in September 2006 says, “Sri Lanka’s National Health Service is a massive operation involving nearly 600 hospitals, 60,000 patient beds and 100,000 employees, operating on a ‘shoe string’ budget of only 1.8 of the GDP.

However, in many respects it stands out as an example in the region.

It can be perfected to be our national pride with added cost effective measures, state of the art general and financial management and on elevated level of professionalism.

Among the measures recommended to be included in the policy are:

Empower communities towards more active participation in maintaining their health.