Health Development Action Plan:

Boost for primary healthcare

Nadira Gunatilleke

Priority has been given to improve primary healthcare under the Health Ministry's five year Health Development Action Plan implemented from 2012 to 2017 to upgrade the health sector, said Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

He said Sri Lanka's population is 20 million, but 100 million patients obtain treatment from state and private hospitals annually.

"The country spends over 80 percent of its annual health budget on curative care and only 20 percent is spent on primary healthcare (preventive health care)," the minister said.

Minister Sirisena said the number of patients who seek medical treatment from state and private hospitals is increasing despite monetary allocations made by the government to develop infrastructure facilities of hospitals such as buildings, modern technology and latest medical equipment.

He said over 55 million people receive OPD and in-house treatment from state hospitals annually and another 50 million receive medical treatment from private hospitals.

The minister requested officials to present proposals in connection with improving preventive care. The five-year action plan covers 24 fields in the health sector.