Quality Healthcare for every patient – Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa

Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the government is taking immediate measures to ensure that every patient admitted to a hospital is provided with a bed, appropriate facilities and quality Healthcare.

The Minister said that the Ministry of Health is committed to properly evaluate the projects initiated in the past years and promoting Emergency Medical services in Sri Lanka, and that digitalization, expanding ambulance services, promoting Health tourism and implementing strategies to retain trained Healthcare professionals in the country will be the key to achieving this goal.

He further said that the World Health Organization’s Emergency Care Framework identifies Emergency Care as a fundamental Human Right to universal Health coverage, and global data reveals that more than half of deaths in low and middle-income countries can be prevented with strong Emergency Care systems, so steps must be taken to strengthen those systems. The Minister made this statement as the Chief Guest at the ceremony to appoint the new President of the Sri Lanka College of Emergency Physicians (SLCEP) for the year 2024-2025.

The ceremony was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo recently.

At this event, Consultant Emergency Physician Dr. Inuka Wijegunawardena was appointed as the new President of the Sri Lanka Academy of Emergency Medicine Specialists for the year 2024-2025.

The Minister of Health and Mass Media congratulated the new President and expressed his confidence that the new President would work to advance the work related to Emergency Medicine services in Sri Lanka.

The Minister also pointed out that developed countries had recognized Emergency Medicine as a critical specialty 50 years ago, and that the need for expertise in Emergency Medicine was felt in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami.

The Minister said that the 2016 Accident and Emergency Care Policy aimed to establish functional emergency units in 75% of Healthcare institutions within three years, and unfortunately, due to various reasons, no Accident and Emergency Care Unit has fully complied with the relevant guidelines.

Pointing out that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the critical need for preparedness and resilience during disasters, and that doctors in this field have taken the lead in those times.

The Minister of Health further stated that the services of Consultant Emergency Physician are very important in building a “rich country, a beautiful life” and that, as the Minister of Health, he will provide unstinting support to strengthen Emergency Medical Care in Sri Lanka.

The Director General of Health Services, Specialist Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Former President of the Sri Lanka Academy of Emergency Medicine Specialists, Dr. Nandana K. Jayathilaka, Secretary Nandaraj Prasanna, and a group of specialists and doctors were present on this occasion.

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