Heathcare – among the best in Asia

Nadira Gunatilleke

Within the past five years Sri Lanka’s healthcare system has become one of the best in the region. It ranges from treating a minor injury to an open heart surgery. Sri Lankan health sector has already set two positive world records, in addition to the massive development drive.

The first world record is providing free quality healthcare service to Sri Lankan public – this has been in operation for 61 years. What matters most is the second world record when it comes to human rights.

Sri Lanka’s healthcare system has saved lives of around 500,000 IDPs who escaped from the LTTE. The latest service offered to the Sri Lankan public is the 24-hour OPD service which was commenced under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has recruited nearly 7000 doctors for the state hospitals all over the country from 2005 to 2010. The number of doctors appointed to state hospitals between 2008 and 2009 is 24.

Within the past few years, the number of doctors increased beyond 12,000. The number of medical officers who had been given opportunities to participate in foreign postgraduate degree programs was over 300.

A program to recruit 15000 new nurses was implemented in 2005. Accordingly the number of staff nursing officers has increased up to 24459 in 2009. Over 2500 nurses were recruited for training in 2010 and another 2400 nurses to be recruited within this year.

The number of persons recruited to technical grades such as MLT is 4500. Diplomas were awarded to 400 MLTs in 2010. Arrangements have already been made to recruit 800 family health officers in 2010.

Immediately after assuming duties, the present Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena ended the drug shortage. Arrangements were made to ensure uninterrupted drug supply to all state hospitals.

Drugs were purchased in advance. A mechanism was set up in coordination with the Treasury, Health Ministry and the Medical Supply Division. All required special drugs such as essential life saving drugs and saline were airlifted immediately.

State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) and the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) were brought under one management to deliver a better service to the public. Steps were taken to control the floor of counterfeit drugs into the country.

A Presidential Task Force was set up to control dengue. Both locally made BT bacteria and the BTI bacteria imported from Cuba were made available in the country to control dengue.

Dengue fever was controlled with the assistance of Presidential Task Force, armed forces, civil defence committees, various organizations, institutions and individuals. Certain essential drugs required to treat dengue haemorrhage patients were imported from Thailand.

Fogging machines were made available in all required areas. Health Advisory Councils were established to strengthen cordial relationship between health staffs and health administrations.

Construction of a hospital with necessary facilities in Godagama initiated with an estimated cost of Rs1000 million. Neuro trauma unit attached to the National Hospital, Colombo, was constructed at a cost of Rs 2137 million in order to meet long term requirements.

Anuradhapura General Hospital was modernized at a cost of Rs 2000 million. Under this project a new ward complex, a unit for renal diseases, public waiting hall and a canteen constructed under the project.

A new linear accelerator machine was provided to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital at a cost of Rs 610 million. Rs 864 million worth medical equipment were provided to Kurunegala Teaching Hospital with the objective of improving the healthcare facilities in the North Western Province.

A new Oncology Unit was established in the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital at a cost of Rs 500 million. A new Nephrology Unit at Maligawatta, Colombo, was constructed at a cost of Rs 405 million to provide treatment to the increasing number of renal patients.

The Government took over and developed the Polonnaruwa General hospital. A ward complex was built at a cost of Rs 450 under the same project.

A hostel complex was built at Maharagama Cancer Hospital at a cost of Rs160 million to provide accommodation for 250 patients and their guardians who travel to this hospital for treatment from distant areas.

Rs 304 million worth building complex was open at Castle Street Maternity Hospital. Construction of Rs 146 million OPD and clinical complex commenced at the same hospital on the same day. Kathankudi hospital developed at a cost of Rs 650 million. A workshop was set up at National Eye Hospital to produce free spectacles for needy patients.

Many base hospitals including Point Pedro, Mannar, Puttalam, Kuliyapitiya, Wathupitiwala, Avissawella, Homagama, Panadura, Horana, Balapitiya, Kantale, Dambulla, Mahiyanganaya, Embilipitiya and Diyatalawa have been developed to cater to the increasing demand for the specialized care services. A new maternity ward complex was constructed in the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital.

The construction of new cardiology and oncology units in this hospital were also commenced. The total cost of the project is Rs 413 million. The construction of a new building at Badulla General Hospital was completed at a cost of Rs 400 million. It consists of an outpatient department, clinics, operating theaters and ICU.

Apart from this development work, the ministry has already supplied Rs 11,000 million worth building complexes to the state hospitals run by the Central Government and Provincial Councils. Rs 2400 million worth modern high technological medical equipment have also been provided for the same hospitals all over the country.

In 2000 there were 100,000 Malaria patients and 76 deaths, whereas in 2008 it came down to 670 patients and zero deaths. Polio, leprosy and few other similar diseases have already been eradicated from Sri Lanka. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is maintained bellow 0.1 percent since the first AIDS case reported from Sri Lanka in 1987. Free treatment is available for all HIV/AIDS positive patients in the country.

The Health budget will be increased from Rs 74 billion to Rs 80 billion by 2011. Arrangements have been made to obtain adequate drugs and medical equipment from the WHO for Novel Influenza (A)H1N1 even before the disease hit Sri Lanka. Steps were taken to import the bacteria from Cuba to control rat fever and dengue. The Thriposha subsidy is provided to 600,000 children under the age of five and breastfeeding mothers at a cost of Rs1350 million annually ensuring the creation of a healthy future generation.

All these were possible under the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s vision. While innocent children of destitute parents die at the doorsteps of state hospitals in many parts of the world, what any Sri Lankan citizen or a foreign tourist need to do is just stepping into any state hospital and tell what is wrong with him/her. The rest is taken care of by the Sri Lankan Government, regardless whether it is just a small injury in skin or a serious heart problem that needs an open heart surgery.

You can go home after getting cured without spending a cent from your pocket. The Government does all these amid the various problems caused by politically driven forces. This is the uniqueness of the local healthcare system which will remain firm for decades to come.