December 11, Colombo (LNW): The Government has entered into a new financing arrangement with the International Development Association of the World Bank Group, unlocking US$150 million to overhaul and modernise the country’s primary healthcare network.
The initiative, which will run from 2024 through 2028, will be rolled out nationwide and is designed to sharpen the country’s response to non-communicable diseases, expand services for older citizens, bolster palliative and home-based care, and strengthen community-level health capacity.
Officials also noted that the project places particular emphasis on preparing the health sector for increasingly frequent climate-related shocks.
One obstacle repeatedly highlighted in early assessments is the shortage of suitable transport for frontline health workers. Public Health Midwives, nurses, inspectors and surveillance teams often struggle to reach remote households, especially during adverse weather, limiting the consistency of community outreach.
In response, the Cabinet has endorsed a proposal from the Minister of Health and Mass Media to purchase a substantial fleet of vehicles to support district-level operations. The approved list includes:
– 26 lorries for transporting clinical waste
– 26 double-cab vehicles
– 5 ten-seater vans
– 2 buses with 42 seats
– 2,891 scooters for Public Health Midwives
– 200 scooters for Public Health Nurses
– 1,350 motorcycles for public health inspectors
– 200 scooters for laboratory services
– 20 refrigerated trucks for the Medical Supply Division
– 8 forklifts for the Medical Supply Division
– 1 crew cab for the Divisional Health Office in Puttalam
– A new ambulance complement for the Jaffna district
Health officials say the expanded fleet will significantly speed up fieldwork, improve consistency in home-visits, and ensure more reliable delivery of medical supplies. They also expect the effort to enhance the reach of community health teams and strengthen the country’s primary care foundation at a time when the demand for accessible, preventive services is rapidly increasing.
