The Ministry of Health has signed Memoranda of Understanding with all nine Provincial Councils to release Rs. 3.6 billion under the Primary Health Care System Strengthening Project, NewsFirst reported on Sunday.
Each of the country’s nine councils — Central, Eastern, North Central, North Western, Northern, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva and Western Provinces — will receive Rs. 400 million per year under the framework. The funds are earmarked for upgrading the physical infrastructure and resources of about 1,700 Primary Health Care Units (PHCU) and Medical Officer of Health (MOH) offices across the island.
The Ministry said the release of the funds is intended to foster mutual cooperation between the central government and Provincial Councils, with the stated aim of ensuring more systematic, efficient and high-quality primary healthcare services for the public.
Sri Lanka’s primary-care reforms — restructuring access at the PHCU level and shifting non-communicable disease (NCD) management closer to community clinics — have been a focus of donor-supported health system reviews, including a recent World Health Organization expert team visit. The system carries a heavy burden, with 83 per cent of deaths attributable to NCDs.
The new disbursement coincides with Health Ministry directives to doctors to immediately report suspected measles cases following two new infections in Colombo, and an ongoing institutional spending review under the IMF Extended Fund Facility programme.
