Health Update: Public Health: 250 health and wellness centres to be set up this year – What Experts Say

• Pilot project expands to 47 centres

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that steps would be taken this year to establish 250 health and wellness centres across the country as part of efforts to strengthen preventive healthcare services.

He also said that action would be taken to introduce a single device capable of carrying out several basic medical tests, particularly for use at health and wellness centres.

He made these remarks during the inauguration of health and wellness centres in the Kalutara District under the pilot project to establish 1,000 such centres islandwide. The ceremonies were held on 24 January, with centres opened across 21 districts.

With the opening of these 42 centres, the total number of operational health and wellness centres has increased to 47. The Minister noted the project has now reached a stable operational stage.

Dr. Jayatissa added that steps are being taken to connect 247,251 people to the services provided by the established health and wellness centres, strengthening disease diagnosis, treatment and control. He said that non-communicable diseases account for a high number of reported illnesses and that the number of patients seeking treatment at hospitals has exceeded existing treatment capacity.

As a result, he said the State is required to invest heavily in expensive modern equipment and medicines, and pointed out that despite such investments, around 80% to 85% of deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases.