The World Bank recently approved $150 million in financing to improve the quality and accessibility of primary health care services in Sri Lanka. These services encompass essential functions such as birth control, immunizations and general health counseling. This investment marks one of the most significant health care projects in Sri Lanka’s history. Although Sri Lanka’s health care system has shown resilience, it still requires additional support to address ongoing challenges, necessitating foreign aid.

The World Bank recognizes the hard work and dedication of Sri Lanka’s primary health care workers and aims to create a more responsive and accessible health care infrastructure. With one of the world’s fastest aging populations, this project is crucial for enabling the health care system to adapt and respond effectively to new and emerging challenges.

Sri Lanka in Context

Sri Lanka urgently needs more health care resources due to capacity challenges and the lack of formal referral mechanisms. These ongoing issues have resulted in the underutilization of primary health care facilities and overcrowding at tertiary care centers, leading to poor service and long wait times. Longstanding structural weaknesses, worsened by an economic crisis, have compromised the quality of the country’s health care. Additionally, fiscal indiscipline in Sri Lanka has led to high fiscal deficits and substantial gross financing needs, creating significant financial debt and causing severe shortages of goods in 2022.

Noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cervical cancer are the leading causes of death and illness in Sri Lanka, responsible for 80% of all deaths. Effectively controlling and managing these diseases requires robust screening, early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up—services that primary health care can adequately provide. The Sri Lanka Primary Health Care System Enhancing Project focuses on these ongoing evolving health priorities, investing in preventive care and promoting primary care facilities as the first point of contact for health care services.

Sri Lanka Primary Health Care System Enhancing Project

The newly approved funds will establish the Sri Lanka Primary Health Care System Enhancing Project, which aims to improve the quality of care and increase the utilization of primary medical care institutions. This project is designed to provide essential health care services to local communities that currently lack access to quality health care. It includes several key components:

• Primary health care services. Increasing the availability of primary health care services and enhancing the capacity of existing institutions.
• Medical supplies. Enhancing the availability of essential medical equipment, medicines, supplies, laboratory testing equipment and transportation.
• Health care workforce. Sustaining and strengthening the primary health care workforce by supporting recruitment, retention, distribution and delegation of health care workers in primary health care institutions.
• Additional services. Expanding primary health care services to include additional services for the aging population, persons with disabilities, individuals with poor oral health and young children, utilizing newly acquired equipment.

Looking Ahead

The $150 million financing from the World Bank aims to bolster Sri Lanka’s primary health care system by addressing critical capacity issues and enhancing service delivery. This funding can potentially increase access to essential medical supplies, strengthen the health care workforce and expand services for the aging population and those with disabilities. By focusing on primary health care, Sri Lanka seeks to improve disease management and meet the growing health needs of its population.

– Mathieu Paré

Mathieu is based in Toronto, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

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