SL healthcare, best in Asia within five years - Minister

Suraj A Bandara

“The Health Ministry will make the healthcare system in Sri Lanka the best in Asia within the next five years,” Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said addressing the 44th Annual Academy sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists at Cinnamon Grand Hotel.

Sri Lanka’s healthcare system was acclaimed the best in South East Asia by the World Health Organization (WHO) recently. The high literacy rate in the country has contributed in achieving this, he said.

Sri Lanka has a low maternal mortality rate when globally half a million women die during pregnancy and childbirth each year, he said.

Sri Lanka has made great improvements in reducing the maternal mortality rate from 42 per 100,000 live births in 1993 to 34 per 100,000 live births in 2010. “This is indeed a satisfactory achievement and we must strive to bring this down further, within the next five years,” the minister added. A main reason for this reduction is the attendance at birth by skilled healthcare personnel and education of female patients, the Minister pointed out.

“Sri Lanka is a unique nation that provides free education from primary to university level. The government provides free health services for all which no other country provides. This has been the policy Sri Lanka adopted for the last 75 years, he said.

The Minister appreciated the valuable service of obstetricians and gynaecologists in delivering healthy children.

He urged doctors to explore opportunities by interacting with other member countries of the Federation to improve the reproductive health status and maternal and child health in particular.

Prof. Harshalal Senevirathne, was appointed the President of the South Asia Federations of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the session. Health delegates from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan attended.