Vast strides in health sector

by Jaliya WIJEYEKOON

It is an accepted fact that the future of a nation mainly depends on the sound health experienced and enjoyed by the people of the country, irrespective of differences. Sri Lanka which has a recorded history of over 2,500 years had been a healthy nation from time immemorial. However, according to the annals of history there had been very effective indigenous treatment, native methods and means of curing patients for different ailments from our primitive days.

With the affluxion of time Sri Lanka was invaded by various foreign powers and finally we became a colony of the British empire in 1815. A far-reaching changes took place in our social structure with the advent of British rule and one of the vital areas that had been affected was the health sector.

The white rulers totally neglected the indigenous or Ayurvedic medicine and introduced western treatment and methods.

We won independence after a long period of time and a separate ministry was set up to look after the health needs of the nation from the very first Parliament. A substantial percentage of the annual budget is allocated for healthcare services of the nation, irrespective of the party in power since independence. Hospitals which were set up all over the island mainly in urban areas to cater to the needs of the people have been functioning for a long time and facilities were provided by successive governments.

These hospitals were equipped with laboratories, operation theatres and various other facilities including human resources.

However, during the past three decades, due to the population explosion in the country and also with the rapid social changes healthcare services of the country were at a low ebb mainly due to the financial constraints suffered by the government due to the protracted war.

New vision

It is encouraging to note that the present government formulated a mechanism to look in to the healthcare services of the nation based on four main areas or categories such as National Hospitals, Human Resource Development, Public Health of IDPs and Estate and Rural Hospitals.

National Hospitals

All National hospitals have been provided with ultra-modern equipment to cater to the needs of the patients. New hospital buildings have been constructed, hospitals have been repaired and refurbished, new wards have been added and all laboratory and theatre facilities have been expanded spending massive amounts of funds. After Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva took over as Chairman of the WHO, he negotiated with International organisations and obtained the ultra modern medical equipment running to billions of rupees to provide better healthcare facilities to the public. The improvements to these national hospitals were of immense benefit to needy people.

Human Resource Development

Another significant area that the government has identified to improve is the Human Resource Development in the health sector. During the past four year period the government took measures to train 5560 doctors and post them to various parts of the island. Seven thousand eight hundred and forty one nurses have already completed their three-year training period of the 15,000 and they have been appointed to hospitals all over the island. Apart from the doctors and nurses, recruitments had been effected to service personnel for the smooth functioning of hospitals, medical centres and dispensaries.

A large number of scholarships has been obtained from International organisations on a regular basis during the past four years for doctors to further their qualifications in their fields of specialisation.

New courses have been introduced at Nurses training centres to cater to the needs of the hospitals.

The health of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) was a daunting task faced by the present government. On account of the humanitarian operations which were carried out even before the end of war in Vavuniya, (Chettikulam) a substantial slice of the Health Ministry budget was allocated. Newly recruited Doctors and nurses have been posted to IDP camps and hospitals, rural hospitals, medical centres, dispensaries and residential quarters for staff members have been provided with the basic facilities in addition to the drugs, medicine and other equipment.

Donations from various international organisations such as ambulances, theatre equipment and medical supplies were despatched to IDP camps for the use of the civilians.

Estates and rural hospitals

Another vital area that the Health Ministry has focused its attention is the estate sector and rural hospitals all over the island.

Estate hospitals were in a deplorable condition in the past and one of the main pleas of the estate community was to look into their healthcare problems.

In keeping with the Mahinda Chinthana the Ministry has taken every effort to re-establish health facilities of estate workers and all estate and rural hospitals have been improved and provided with medical facilities and human resources to render a better service to down trodden estate workers and rural folk.

Ayurvedic Hospitals

Ayurvedic hospitals have received unprecedented support for its growth during the past four years.

Ayurvedic treatment or indigenous medicine methods which prevailed in the country from time immemorial had been neglected for a long time and no state patronage was focused for its development or even for its mere survival until very recently.

It is commendable how the present government and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has virtually resuscitated this all important segment of the national health sector by providing infrastructure facilities such as new hospital buildings, equipment and human resources and all other related amenities amidst severe financial constraints experienced by the country owing to the protracted war.

A number of Ayurvedic doctors has been recruited and steps have been taken to provide them similar facilities enjoyed by MBBS qualified doctors.

According to UNICEF and the World Health Organisation the health standard of Sri Lankans better than any other country in South Asia.

Sri Lanka has achieved a relatively high standard of health as seen by the low levels of infant, child and maternal mortality and high life expectancy.

In Sri Lanka UNICEF supports quality health and nutrition services including immunisation, emergency obstetric care and neonatal care, provision of medical supplies, support to mobile clinics, promotion of infant and young child feeding micronutrient supplementation and nutrition rehabilitation of severely undernourished children.Under the guidance of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva the health sector of Sri Lanka has achieved great strides.

The Ministry has spent Rs. 5,000 million during the past four years on buildings and millions of rupees are being spent annually on human resource development to provide better healthcare facilities.