One of the important lessons emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of maintaining a centralised healthcare system, said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Although the administrations of most of Sri Lanka’s state-run hospitals are vested with the provincial councils, fortunately there were enough hospitals nationwide under the management of the Health Ministry that could be utilised without difficulty during the height of the pandemic, the President said further.
“Had we been in a situation where healthcare was a subject completely devolved to the provincial councils, the efficacy of Sri Lanka’s response to the pandemic may have been quite different,” the President pointed out.
“Our recent experience reinforces the importance of maintaining responsibility for certain functions with the central government. Education is another vital area of public life that can be similarly described.”
President Rajapaksa made these remarks delivering the keynote address at the launch of “Good Intern Programme 2020”, a two-day workshop at the Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist Studies (NIIBS) in Manelwatta, Bollagala, Kelaniya on Saturday (5).
The workshop organised by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) was attended by 680 medical graduates awaiting internship. Saturday’s workshop was the eighth in the series. More than 100 professors and medical consultants shared their thoughts during the workshop.
Commencing his address, the President said Sri Lanka was successful in containing the Covid-19 pandemic primarily to due decisive, early action taken by multiple arms of the Government, and the truly outstanding efforts of our health personnel.
“The outstanding success Sri Lanka achieved in this endeavour came at a time when even some of the most developed countries in the world were unable to respond adequately to the pandemic. Due to a variety of factors, ranging from a delayed response by their governments to the lack of universal health insurance, the unpreparedness of their healthcare institutions and the lack of sufficient testing to the inadequacy of their management systems, the spread of the virus could not be contained in several developed nations.”
The President said he commends, pays tribute to, and expresses his sincere gratitude to all healthcare professionals and others who contributed to Sri Lanka’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Sri Lanka’s success in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic has been justly commended by international institutions including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), as well as many foreign nations, international commentators, and individuals,” the President pointed out.
“One of the core pillars of development is the maintenance of a healthy population. Achieving certain public health goals remains a core responsibility of the Government. I am determined to work towards creating a healthy nation during my tenure as President of this country.
“While there is certainly a need to further strengthen the state healthcare system, I believe it is time that we encourage greater use of the facilities we have within this system,” said the President, adding that some innovative thinking towards absorbing state-generated funds into the public healthcare system will ultimately benefit the citizens.
“The mandate given to the Government by the people at the parliamentary elections just a month ago makes it very clear that the Sri Lankan public is hungry for development and tired of excuses,” the President added.
Ministry of Health Secretary Major General (Retd.) Sanjeewa Munasinghe, medial officers, GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya, GMOA members, and delegates of the Society for Health Research and Innovation attended the inaugural session.
Later, the President called on NIIBS Chief Executive and Kelaniya Manelwatta Vihara Chief Incumbent Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Thera, who gifted the President a replica of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
The President posed for a group photo with Bhikkhunis of the Buddha Shravika Educational Centre in the Manelwatta Vihara and children of Dharmachakra Lama Padanama.President notes importance on centralised healthcare system
07 Sep 2020
President notes importance on centralised healthcare system
07 Sep 2020
One of the important lessons emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of maintaining a centralised healthcare system, said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Although the administrations of most of Sri Lanka’s state-run hospitals are vested with the provincial councils, fortunately there were enough hospitals nationwide under the management of the Health Ministry that could be utilised without difficulty during the height of the pandemic, the President said further.
“Had we been in a situation where healthcare was a subject completely devolved to the provincial councils, the efficacy of Sri Lanka’s response to the pandemic may have been quite different,” the President pointed out.
“Our recent experience reinforces the importance of maintaining responsibility for certain functions with the central government. Education is another vital area of public life that can be similarly described.”
President Rajapaksa made these remarks delivering the keynote address at the launch of “Good Intern Programme 2020”, a two-day workshop at the Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist Studies (NIIBS) in Manelwatta, Bollagala, Kelaniya on Saturday (5).
The workshop organised by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) was attended by 680 medical graduates awaiting internship. Saturday’s workshop was the eighth in the series. More than 100 professors and medical consultants shared their thoughts during the workshop.
Commencing his address, the President said Sri Lanka was successful in containing the Covid-19 pandemic primarily to due decisive, early action taken by multiple arms of the Government, and the truly outstanding efforts of our health personnel.
“The outstanding success Sri Lanka achieved in this endeavour came at a time when even some of the most developed countries in the world were unable to respond adequately to the pandemic. Due to a variety of factors, ranging from a delayed response by their governments to the lack of universal health insurance, the unpreparedness of their healthcare institutions and the lack of sufficient testing to the inadequacy of their management systems, the spread of the virus could not be contained in several developed nations.”
The President said he commends, pays tribute to, and expresses his sincere gratitude to all healthcare professionals and others who contributed to Sri Lanka’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Sri Lanka’s success in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic has been justly commended by international institutions including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), as well as many foreign nations, international commentators, and individuals,” the President pointed out.
“One of the core pillars of development is the maintenance of a healthy population. Achieving certain public health goals remains a core responsibility of the Government. I am determined to work towards creating a healthy nation during my tenure as President of this country.
“While there is certainly a need to further strengthen the state healthcare system, I believe it is time that we encourage greater use of the facilities we have within this system,” said the President, adding that some innovative thinking towards absorbing state-generated funds into the public healthcare system will ultimately benefit the citizens.
“The mandate given to the Government by the people at the parliamentary elections just a month ago makes it very clear that the Sri Lankan public is hungry for development and tired of excuses,” the President added.
Ministry of Health Secretary Major General (Retd.) Sanjeewa Munasinghe, medial officers, GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya, GMOA members, and delegates of the Society for Health Research and Innovation attended the inaugural session.
Later, the President called on NIIBS Chief Executive and Kelaniya Manelwatta Vihara Chief Incumbent Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Thera, who gifted the President a replica of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
The President posed for a group photo with Bhikkhunis of the Buddha Shravika Educational Centre in the Manelwatta Vihara and children of Dharmachakra Lama Padanama.Kapruka
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