NCD prevention activities short changed

Nadira Gunatilleke

Last year (2012), only 10 per cent of the Rs.300 million allocated for Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) prevention activities were spent by officials and 90 per cent of the funds had been returned to the Treasury without being used for NCD prevention activities, Health Ministry sources said.

According to the sources, annually President Mahinda Rajapaksa allocates Rs. 300 million for NCD preventing activities at the request of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena because NCDs has seen a rapid rise in Sri Lanka in the recent past.

Over 600 heart cases are reported daily from state hospitals with 20 of them proving fatal.

Between 10 to 15 per cent of the total population of Sri Lanka suffer from diabetes. Considering this alarming condition, Minister Sirisena requested President Rajapaksa for more funds to invest in NCD prevention and as a result, the President allocated Rs. 300 million annually, the sources said.

"During the past six months of this year, non of the NCD prevention activities had been carried out by the relevant officials using the funds allocated for this year (Rs. 300 million). The funds have been allocated for NCD prevention activities such as programs, projects, campaigns etc that should be planned, organized and created by relevant health officials. Special attention should be paid to raise public awareness on NCD prevention. Since there are no activities, programmes etc, the funds go back to the Treasury without benefiting the public," sources added.