The Health and Mass Media Ministry is committed to strengthening specialist healthcare services, improving postgraduate medical education, expanding hospital infrastructure and introducing modern medical technology, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has said.
He was speaking at the fifth Annual Academic Session of the Neurosurgeons Association of Sri Lanka, held at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo on Thursday. The session, under the theme “A Collaborative Approach to Neurosurgical Excellence in Sri Lanka,” also marked 70 years of neurosurgery in the country.
Investment in people and facilities
Jayatissa said developing specialist healthcare services required continued investment in human resources, medical education, hospital infrastructure and modern technology, and described strengthening specialist services as among the government’s key priorities.
He highlighted the importance of improving postgraduate medical education and of giving specialist doctors the facilities and opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills further.
The Minister also pointed to the need for appropriate training programmes and a suitable working environment to attract talented young doctors into neurosurgery and other specialised fields.
Collaboration across professions
Advances in modern healthcare cannot be achieved by a single individual or professional group, Jayatissa said. Cooperation among specialist doctors, medical officers, nurses and other healthcare professionals is essential to achieve the best outcomes.
He said the government was committed to creating the conditions for the health sector to meet emerging challenges while ensuring patients have access to efficient, quality specialist care.
The Minister did not announce new funding allocations, staffing targets or a timeline for the infrastructure and technology commitments, and the Daily Mirror report did not indicate whether any were set out at the session.
