January 25, Colombo (LNW): The government is moving ahead with plans to expand preventive healthcare by setting up 250 Health and Wellness Centres across the country, Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa disclosed.
The initiative is intended to ease pressure on hospitals by shifting greater emphasis towards early detection and routine monitoring of common health conditions.
Speaking at the opening of 42 new centres under the second phase of a pilot scheme, the Minister said the facilities will eventually be equipped with compact, multi-purpose medical devices capable of carrying out several basic tests from a single unit.
He explained that this approach would improve access to essential diagnostics at community level while keeping costs under control.
The latest centres were declared open yesterday in Thanamalwila and Heenatiyangala in the Kalutara District, bringing the total number of operational Health and Wellness Centres to 47. Dr Jayatissa noted that the programme has now reached a steady footing, with nearly a quarter of a million people already linked to the services offered through these outlets.
Drawing attention to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, the Minister observed that hospitals are increasingly stretched beyond their treatment capacity. Despite significant spending on modern equipment and medication, he said such illnesses continue to account for the vast majority of deaths, underlining the need for stronger preventive care.
Future plans, he added, include introducing more advanced diagnostic and treatment tools at Health and Wellness Centres to handle a wider range of basic medical procedures closer to where people live.
