Health sector development:

Combining institutions to benefit people

Nadira Gunatilleke

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena combined the institutions that come under the purview of the Health Ministry to provide better service for the public.

Separating institutions give opportunity to offer many chairmanships and employment to supporters but combining institutions close doors for this, Health Deputy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Addressing the gathering after opening development projects at the National Eye Hospital Colombo yesterday, Deputy Minister Amaraweera said there were many challenges by the time the new Minister took over the Health Ministry and now many of them have been met.

All problems in the health sector will be solved shortly. A pilot project will be commenced by the end of July to use the BTI bacteria to control dengue. SPC and SPMC are combined to ensure an uninterrupted drug supply.

The Deputy Minister said Sri Lanka will eradicate Malaria by 2014. Non communicable diseases are on the rise in Sri Lanka and one of the main contributors for this problem is delicious processed food advertised on television.

The Government spends a large amount of money on the health sector. The National Eye Hospital treats 300,000 OPD patients annually and cater to 200,000 who attend to clinics.

The hospital performs 18,000 eye operations annually. The hospital is 105 years old.

The hospital awarded certificates to the persons and organisations which assisted the hospital.

Standard Chartered Bank, Janashakthi insurance, LB Finance, Glaxo Smithkline, Orange, Sight Savers International, Lankem, International Centre for Eye Care Education assisted development projects completed at the hospital.

An Optical Lab which manufactures spectacles for the needy and a children’s park are among the new projects opened.