Lanka’s free health care dates back to World War 11 – SB

Nadira Gunatilleke

Sri Lanka has been offering free health care for people since the Second World War. Sri Lanka has 593 state hospitals, 17,000 doctors and 29,000 nurses. The Sri Lankan government spends over Rs.100 billion on public health, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said.

He was addressing the launch of ‘Enhancing Healthcare Education in Sri Lanka’ a joint programme organised by Temasek Foundation and Singapore International Foundation in partnership with the Health Ministry and the Colombo University yesterday.

Minister Dissanayake said in 2007, over 23 million people had obtained OPD treatment and another 16 million people had obtained specialised health services.

“The majority of Sri Lankan citizens are healthy but enhancing healthcare education is very important,” he said.

The minister commended the initiative taken to launch the three year multi-disciplinary education programme.

Singapore International Foundation Governor K. Kesavapany, Colombo University Vice Chancellor Dr. W.K. Hirimburegama, Temasek Foundation Organisation and Operation Director Anjan Kumar Ghouse, Director General, Health Services, Dr. Palitha Maheepala, Colombo University Medical Faculty Dean Prof. Rohan Jayasekara and several others also spoke.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena was also present.