Medicare 2011 Exhibition opens on Friday, March 4:

Most suitable healthcare methods shown

Sri Lanka's Medical Tourism potential highlighted:

A one-of-a-kind medical exhibition and convention will take place from March 4 to March 6 this year under the theme Medicare 2011. Organising Committee Chairman Dr Amal Harsha De Silva shed light on the features and the objectives of the exhibition which will be quite useful for all stakeholders of the healthcare sector as well as patients.

What is this Asian miracle in healthcare?

Isn't it a miracle for a country to double its life expectancy within the past 40 years? Sri Lanka has indeed achieved it. Our infant mortality and maternal mortality rates are in par with the developed world and it is definitely above all our neighbouring countries.

We are providing free healthcare to our people at the point of delivery. Isn't it a miracle in today's context? Therefore, I really feel that we have already achieved a miraculous status in healthcare.

Explain the concept of the exhibition, Medicare 2011.

For the second consecutive year, we are organizing the Medicare exhibition by the Department of Health - Western Province under the patronage of the Ministry of Health.

We have a unique aspect in this exhibition where we invited all Health Ministers, past and present, to come together on one platform to make this exhibition a reality.

We work on common ground to exchange ideas and knowledge on one platform because health is a national issue and we need to work together to make our country a healthy nation.

Health and health technological advances are coming to the doorstep of the people and the medical industry. Medicare 2011 will be the most important meeting place for all stakeholders of healthcare including the past, present and the future health investors. The healthcare industry meets the professionals trying to sell a product or a service but in this national event they will share experiences and hold hands together.

Our goal is to ensure that the public is getting timely, accurate and important information with regard to health issues and to be updated on the latest technological innovations pertaining to health.

This in turn, will promote a healthy lifestyle for the benefit of all.

Why are all Health Ministers invited? Why do you think this is important?

With all due respect, politicians are not given due credit in the country for our remarkable achievements. Fortunately, we have had many Health Ministers the country can be proud of. Let me recollect some of them. Mrs. Siva Obeysekera, who has brought in many health policies for this country and Ranjith Attapattu who took Sri Lanka to the world agenda.

Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva was also an efficient minister who later became the head of the WHO (World Health Organisation).

John Seneviratne who was a minister with a great humane touch who improved health in a big way should also be given recognition. Another minister was A.H.M.Fowzie who has visited all the hospitals and health institutions and was looking at health from a patient's point of view all the time.

Minister Dayaratne who was calm but steady in looking after the people's health and Renuka Herath who was loved by all healthcare stakeholders doing a lot to improve the country's health. Thereafter, Sunethra Ranasinghe also did a good job at the Teaching Hospital Ministry. Today, we have an efficient Minister, Maithripala Sirisena who has grasped the details of the healthcare in a short time and a time when we are expecting results, for he has already helped eradicate dengue in a remarkable way.

Looking at all these Ministers, Sri Lanka is very lucky to have such honourable politicians who have the interests of the people at heart.

This is why we invite them to be a part of this exhibition because our Health Ministers have set an example for others to follow where health policies are vital to run a healthy nation. So it is justifiable to invite all of the Health Ministers irrespective of party politics.

I must also say that His Excellency the President has done what nobody could achieve and he has certainly brought results. He has created a country where people can take maximum benefits of the advances in medicine.

What are the key features of this Medicare 2011? We're happy to bring this event for the second year and in addition to bringing various seminars from professional and doctors in the medical industry, we will also have medical equipment from genuine and authentic service and product providers.

The Medical professionals can also get updated on the latest time-tested technologies available at the National Healthcare Exhibition. Whilst at the same time, we are having some key interactive events between the public and healthcare providers. For example, special features will include many free health check-ups.

In what way has this event helped medical professionals? Traditionally, doctors and medical professionals are very busy people who don't have enough time.

Since we provide a common platform for them to share their knowledge at this event, the event will promote a good doctor-patient relationship and allow other professionals to see how best they can help each other.

Medical professionals are unique people. They can't advertise themselves as they are bound by ethics. There are only a few opportunities for medical professionals to highlight the good that they are doing. We can't work in isolation today because we have a lot to learn from other countries.

There are credible achievements done by both the public and private sector so one shouldn't overrule the other as both are relied upon by the masses.

Compared to other years, what does the Medicare 2011 have in store for us and why is it special?

Medicare 2011 will have a unique feature as the year 2011 has been declared the 'Visit Sri Lanka' year where plenty of tourists and Sri Lankans living abroad will discover and rediscover our peaceful nation.

What's more, rather than just offering our traditional tourism, Sri Lanka's medical tourism is quickly gaining recognition and it's safe to say that plenty of medical professionals are now thought of as examples for others to follow.

Our health indicators are in par with the West such as maternal health, life expectancy, etc. Sri Lanka is now being seen as an example and outlines among neighboring countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives.

Our professionals have experience tackling a variety of medical problems. Both the public and private health sectors, have improved drastically within the past two decades.

Our advice is to get the public to tell us what they want to hear and give us the strength to help them to help themselves.

You can't always buy the best medical knowledge, so we must ensure that the right message is going to the right patient.

What has been the benefit of the exhibition and how has it been popular in uplifting the message of healthcare?

A majority of the visitors who come to the exhibition will be made knowledgeable and informed about healthcare choices.

The benefit of this exhibition is that they can find where they can go to when they have a certain ailment. For the benefit of the public, seminars are conducted to allow mutual exchange of ideas and knowledge. A good platform for the media to report on key health issues in order to educate the public.

We have handpicked medical professionals to talk about various medical topics for the benefit of the people to understand and seek advice. Every day, it's a different important health topic so addressing it and telling people what to do is the main message. We are creating a brain gain with the conditions looking favorable for health policy strengthening after the dawn of peace.

It is safe to say that even Sri Lankan expatriates and foreigners are now becoming highly impressed with our healthcare and especially for a people friendly government that invests in people's health.

What advice would you give the public before they come to this exhibition?

Even if you're a healthy person, you should come to the National Healthcare Exhibition. We are not scaring the people away saying that you'll definitely get a disease but we want to send a message that Sri Lanka is ready to handle any type of health issues.

Don't worry, we know what's best for our people but if you go to unknown and so-called medical professionals without doing a background check, then it's your health at risk. So it is education and awareness that is important and this would be the ideal platform for you to help us help you.