ADB provides $50 million to enhance Sri Lanka's health system

The Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a grant and loan package totaling $50 million to support the development of a more responsive and efficient primary health care system in four underserved Sri Lankan provinces.

“Sri Lanka has made impressive gains in ensuring access to and quality of health services for all,” said ADB Social Sector Specialist Mr. Brian Chin. “But challenges remain, including a dramatic increase in noncommunicable diseases, which are causing a surge in demand for health services and rises in costs. The ADB project will operationalize the government’s policy to strengthen the delivery of high-quality primary health services, particularly reaching vulnerable groups.”

The ADB project will focus on enhancing the primary health care system in four provinces—Central, North Central, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva—while strengthening the health information and disease surveillance systems, and developing policies and capacity in the health sector.

The project will upgrade 135 primary medical care units and divisional hospitals in the four provinces, providing equipment for improving laboratory, emergency treatment, dental, and other clinical services. It will also refurbish 127 field health centers, providing equipment and staff training. Accompanying these will be a behavior change communication campaign that will include health promotion, nutrition education, and community outreach activities.

The health information system will be strengthened to provide real-time sharing of information across health facilities and across different stages of patient care. At ports of entry, the project will boost health surveillance and quarantine capacity, including a web-based surveillance system and training for health personnel.

The total cost of the project is $60 million, of which ADB is providing a grant of $12.5 million and a concessional loan of $37.5 million. The government is providing $10 million toward the total cost of the project, which is due for completion at the end of November 2023.

Original source: ADB
Published on 24 October 2018