Health Ministry places accent on primary health care
Nadira Gunatilleke
The total population of Sri Lanka is only 20 million but about 100
million patients obtain treatment from state and private hospitals
annually. Sri Lanka spends over 80 per cent of its annual health budget
on curative care and only 20 per cent is spent on primary health care
(preventive health care). This should be changed, Health Minister
Maithripala Sirisena said.
Minister Sirisena said that priority has been given to improve
primary health care under the Health Ministry’s five year Health
Development Action Plan which will be implemented from 2012 to 2017 to
upgrade the health sector.
The number of patients who seek medical treatment from state and
private hospitals are rapidly increasing despite the increased monetary
allocations by the government to develop infrastructure facilities of
hospitals such as buildings, modern technology and latest medical
equipment etc.
Minister Sirisena pointed out that over 55 million persons receive
OPD and in-house treatment from state hospitals annually and another 50
million receive medical treatment from private hospitals. He asked
officials to present proposals to improve preventive care as against
curative care. The five year action plan covers 24 fields in the health
sector.
The minister stressed that in another five years health officials who
are today in various positions may not be there because of their
retirement and even the current Health Minister may not be there to
handle tasks. But it is the responsibility of all to ensure the quality
of the country’s free health service on behalf of the people.
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