Five year National Health Plan launch today

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Five Year (2013- 2017) National Health Plan prepared by the Health Ministry will be launched today, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said. The Five Year National Health Plan was formulated by the ministry’s Planning Department. The Plan covers 24 sectors. It was formulated with inputs from scholars and experts in the health sector. It also includes suggestions and ideas of professionals in other sectors and provincial health authorities.

The minister said achieving set targets during each year, means of securing funds and other important strategies are set out in the National Health Policy.

During the previous years, every National Health Plan was confined to only one year.

This Five Year National plan is directed to reach many targets, he said.

Sri Lanka has shown an upward trend in non communicable diseases compared to other Asian countries.

Around 650 individuals die daily due to heart attacks, diabetes, cancer, stroke, high blood pressure and respiratory diseases, the minister said.

The Health Ministry decided to proclaim 2013 as the Prevention Year of Non Communicable Diseases under the Five year Health National Programme.

The plan also contains proposals to minimise the usage of tobacco and alcohol among the population , he said