Sri Lanka provides quality health services

Ranked first in world Health and Survival indicator:

Subashini Samaranayake

I consider it my responsibility to preserve the free health service and safeguard the right of every citizen for the benefits there under - Mahinda Chintana - Vision Ahead

More recruitment of nurses

With President Mahinda Rajapaksa assuming the second term of office on November 19, the country is poised to become the Wonder of Asia. In keeping with Mahinda Chintana, the Government has taken several action in the past five years to fulfill the healthcare needs of the people by upgrading health facilities in Sri Lanka. Re-constructing and upgrading hospitals by the Government in a number of areas, is a key aspect of this policy.

Recent international reports have shown that the country has benefitted from the allocation of millions of rupees from the National Budget for the improvement of the health sector. Sri Lanka is ranked first in the world in the Health and Survival indicator, of the Global Gender Gap Report 2010 compiled by the World Economic Forum.

Sri Lanka is often lauded internationally for its good health indicators and is at the forefront in providing quality health services in the South Asian region. Low child mortality rate, steps to prevent communicable diseases, low maternal mortality rate and special emphasis on primary healthcare, are some of the factors which have contributed to this success.

Sri Lanka’s child mortality rate stands at 12 per 1000 births and maternity mortality rate, according to the latest statistics of the Health Ministry 45 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Sri Lanka’s life expectancy at birth is 77 years for males and 68 for females which is on par the most of the developed countries in the world.

Sri Lanka has completely eradicated polio and smallpox and achieved universal child immunization.

It is noteworthy that Sri Lanka has set a world record for continuously providing free public health facilities for more than 75 years. Sri Lanka has an extensive network of public health clinics and hospitals across the country with a total of around 70,000 beds.

Within the last five years, the Government re-constructed a number of hospitals which were destroyed due to terrorism and the tsunami. It also took action to upgrade hospitals in many parts of the country.

Kilinochchi District Hospital

Kilinochchi District Hospital which was badly damaged by terrorism was renovated and re-opened to the public by the Government.

It was re-equipped under the Vaddikin Vasantham (Uthuru Vasanthaya or Northern Spring) Rehabilitation and Resettlement program of the North, implemented by the Presidential Special Task Force.

The hospital received a maternity ward, OPD, dental clinic, a unit for wound dressing and an Anti-Malaria Campaign Unit under this renovation.

Jaffna Hospital

A Rs 2,000 million project is under way to improve the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Under this project, a new three-storey complex will house the administrative unit and the wards for patients. Central facilities for diagnostic imaging will be on the ground floor. It will comprise four rooms for X-rays, four Radiology rooms, a Dental X-ray Unit, Mammography Unit and Endoscope, CT Scanning, ECG, EEG and Ultra Sound Units.

The Operating Theatre complex with eight Operating rooms and Recovery Rooms will be housed on the second floor, which will also have a 20-bed Intensive Care Unit, Central Laboratory, Haematology, Bio-Chemistry and Micro Biology Units.

The project is funded by the Japanese Government.

Ayurvedic hospital in Jaffna

Indigenous Medicine Ministry has taken steps to develop the Ayurvedic Teaching Hospital in Kaithadi, Jaffna with new facilities to encourage the farmer community in Jaffna to grow indigenous medicinal plants.

This will promote the use of herbal medicines for illnesses, giving the farmers in Jaffna an additional source of income.

Health services in Vanni

Reconstructed Kilinochchi Hospital (Left) Government has spent Rs 988 m to modernize Matale Hospital

Vanni residents are now having access to 24 hour medical services at government hospitals in Kilinochchi, Mulankavil, Mannar, Thalaimannar, Pesalai and Mallavi.

Anuradhapura Hospital

The Government has taken action to develop the facilities in Anuradhapura Hospital to meet the health needs of 1.1 million people in the area. Rs 3,125.5 million was allocated by the Government for this task in 2008. The Japanese Government agreed to provide a further Rs 1,250 million to improve the hospital’s healthcare service and to purchase medical equipment.

The project expects to develop the Out Patients’ Department, Dental Unit, Maternal and Paediatric Unit, Cancer Prevention Services, water supply, health and other sanitary facilities in the hospital. It will also supply necessary laboratory equipment.

Hambantota Hospital

Nearly 500,000 people, who needed healthcare services in the Hambantota Hospital, hitherto faced many difficulties due to the dilapidated condition of the hospital. The President drew attention to this issue and initiated the launch of a mega project for the modernization of the hospital.

It is to be made a fully-fledged hospital which will comprise an OPD Unit, a ward complex, an ICU, surgical theatres and emergency treatment units. Water storage and sanitary facilities are being improved.

The refurbishment is taking place with grants from the Hungarian Government as well as local contributions. Reconstruction has already entered the final phase. The project will be completed by 2011 at a cost of Rs 8,450 million.

Godagama Hospital

The construction of the biggest hospital of the Southern Province has commenced in Godagama in Galle District. The Government allocated Rs 550 million and the Korean Government provided Rs 660 million for this construction. An Out Patients’ Department, Intensive Care Units, Diagnostic Services, Public Health Units, Medicine stores and Quarters for the doctors and other staff will be established under this project.

Renal Care Hospital - Maligawatte

The Renal Care Hospital and Research Centre at Maligawatte, Colombo, were recently opened for the benefit of kidney patients. The hospital was built at a cost of Rs 450 million. President Rajapaksa, who discussed issues relating to the spread of kidney ailments, instructed the immediate opening of this important healthcare facility and its full equipment.

Triple Service Centre for Epilepsy

The Government has taken action to establish a service centre for epilepsy with modern facilities attached to the Colombo National Hospital to provide necessary service to nearly 30, 000 patients in Sri Lanka.

Earlier, the country did not have enough facilities such as a well-trained staff and necessary equipments to serve epilepsy-affected people.

The Government’s allocation for this task is Rs 550 million and Saudi Arabia provides Rs 2,200 million. The project is expected to be completed by 2011.

Thus, it is evident that the Government with its leadership and vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has paid great attention towards providing a quality healthcare service to the people. The Government has achieved many goals in this regard during past five years.

Health conditions at IDP welfare centres

The Health Ministry and WHO remain vigilant about emerging and re-emerging diseases among IDPs and other health issues such as malaria, dengue and tuberculosis (TB) as well as H1N1 infections.

The Ministry has a comprehensive health information gathering system in welfare centres through the Cheddikulam coordination centre. The Ministry has also established new immunization guidelines in these centres for children and the health workers, it said.

Other developments

The Kurunegala Teaching Hospital is being developed at a cost of Rs 1,723 million with the funding assistance from Austria - Maternal ward complex of the Ratnapura General Hospital was opened on July 29, 2010.

The Health Ministry has launched a special program to bring the service of specialist doctors to the difficult and rural areas of the country.

A Presidential Task Force was set up to control dengue menace with the coordination of the Health, Defence, Environment, Education and Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministries.

The Taskforce will pay special attention to the most affected 65 Divisional Secretariat divisions in the 15 districts.