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Introduction
:
Sri
Lanka has achieved a commendable health status measured in
terms of traditional health indices in relation to its Gross
Domestic Product (GDP). This ha been mainly due to the social
polices adopted by successive governments in the past few
decades.
Health
Policy :
The health policy
of the Government will be directed at consolidating the earlier
gains as well as adopting new policies to raise the health status
of the people
The broad aim of
the Health Policy is to :
i. Further increase
life expectancy by reducing preventable deaths due to both
communicable and non-communicable diseases.
ii. Improve the quality of life by reducing preventable disease,
health problems and disability; and also emphasizing the positive
aspects of health through health promotion.
In this respect
the Government has identified the following diseases/ health
problems as priority areas needing focused attention:
Maternal and
Child Health problems, adolescent health, malnutrition &
nutritional deficiencies, problems of the elderly, malaria, oral
health, bowel disease, respiratory disease, mental health
problems, physical disabilities, deliberate self-harm/ suicide,
accidents, rabies, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes,
cerebrovascular disease, renal disease, malignancies,
STD/HIV-AIDS, substance abuse and problems related to the family
unit.
1.
Improve the existing preventive health programmes
and in addition develop more comprehensive coordinated and focused
programmes that would:
(a)
reduce the burden of disease in the community;
(b)
enable early detection of preventable diseases/ health
problems and their complications;
(c)
focus on promoting positive health behaviour
2.
Improve the existing medical facilities and develop
additional services to meet a wider range and level of medical
needs including rehabilitation
and continuing care, both institutional and community base.
3.
Health care will made more accessible to the
community on an equitable basis with provision for meeting
specific health needs.
4.
Improve the quality of health care to a level
acceptable to both the community and service providers.
5.
Health services activities and patient care will respect
the dignity of the individual at all times. |
6.
The Government will remain committed to providing basic
health care free of cost to the individual at the point of
delivery, in State sector institutions.
7.
The Government will ensure the right of men and women to be
informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and
acceptable methods of family planning of their choice.
8.
Health care will be made more efficient and cost
effective.
9.
Develop and implement a National Drug Policy for the
rational use and distribution of drugs.
10.
Promote the involvement of the community in health
care.
11.
Allocate resources between provinces/ districts
based on their health needs and national priorities.
12.
The Health Ministry will strengthen integrated
approaches with other Governmental and Non Governmental
agencies to facilitate greater coordination for better health
care.
13.
The Government will facilitate the development and
regulation of the private health care sector and promote
better coordination with this sector.
14.
Encourage health systems research and its
application.
15.
Human Resource Development will be supported and
strengthened in keeping with contemporary needs.
16.
Services and programmes will be introduced to meet the
emerging health needs of the elderly and those affected by
physical disabilities, mental health disorders, as well as the
health problems of displaced populations.
17.
Development of indigenous systems of medicines and
homeopathy will be encouraged.
18.
The Government is committed to allocate additional funds
from Governmental sources and through alternative mechanisms of
funding, towards meeting priority health needs especially in the
areas of health promotion and prevention.
Implementation:
The
National Health Policy will be implemented through the Central and
Provincial Health Ministries.
The Ministry
will issue documents on :
i.
Policy on Reproductive
Health
ii.
Policy on Population
Measures will be
taken to raise the health status of the population in general and
minimize the impact of the above mentioned diseases/ health
problems in particular by adopting the following health
strategies. |
