The World Bank said in a statement yesterday that the Board of Executive Directors has approved $150 million in financing for Sri Lanka to enhance the standard and uptake of its primary healthcare services.
The recently authorised Sri Lanka Primary Healthcare System Enhancing Project will contribute to raising the standard of care and boosting the number of patients visiting primary care facilities, which offer vital healthcare services to nearby communities.
In Sri Lanka, overcrowding in tertiary care facilities and underutilization of primary healthcare facilities are the results of capacity issues and the lack of a formal referral mechanism.
“WB will provide $150 million to enhance primary healthcare services”
Prior to this, 550 Primary Medical Care Institutions were improved with basic laboratory testing facilities, medications, medical staff, and necessary equipment as part of the Primary Healthcare Systems Strengthening Project, which was funded by the World Bank.
With the help of the new project, these efforts will be increased to 100% of Primary Medical Care Institutions in all districts of Sri Lanka, reaching over 1,000 facilities that will provide better care and a more extensive range of services.
World Bank Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos stated, “Sri Lanka’s health system has demonstrated remarkable performance, but it needs to be strengthened to face emerging healthcare challenges.”
In Sri Lanka, non-communicable diseases, which account for 80% of deaths, are the main cause of morbidity and mortality. These diseases include diabetes, hypertension, and cervical cancer. Requirements for effective non-communicable disease control and management include thorough screening, prompt diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s population is ageing at the fastest rate in South Asia, meaning that the country’s health system will need to change to accommodate the elderly’s expanding healthcare needs. This project is built around these changing health priorities, supporting primary care facilities as the initial point of care and aiding in the investment in preventive care.
Furthermore, by increasing capacity to address mental health, palliative, geriatric, rehabilitative, and emergency care—all of which are crucial for the ageing population—the project will support the delivery of comprehensive primary healthcare services.
The project will also increase primary medical care institutions’ ability to recognise and contain infectious disease outbreaks in the future, which will strengthen pandemic preparedness. According to the World Bank, this will support Sri Lanka’s healthcare system’s ability to adjust and effectively address fresh and developing challenges.
