Elderly and mental health among government's priorities
Minister Nalinda Jayatissa identified four challenges: aging population, noncommunicable diseases, mental health, and nutrition. He stressed the need for better diagnoses and treatment. One of the objectives is to improve the country's ranking on the Universal Health Index.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – It is the responsibility of every country's government to pay equal attention to its citizens, regardless of their social status.
For Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, addressing the health challenges facing the country with this attitude is a priority for the in Colombo.
“The program is currently being planned by the Ministry,” said Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa.
“The first challenge facing the Ministry of Health is the elderly population that will be 25 per cent in the future,” he said.
“The government should take care of the elderly as a responsibility; and it is useless to suggest alternatives, and the necessary preparations should be made and implemented in practice,” he added.
Jayatissa also emphasised that noncommunicable diseases can be considered the second challenge the country faces, adding that if every person were tested, everyone would be found to be suffering from some noncommunicable disease, like diabetes and hypertension.
He laments that only a limited number of people are tested for noncommunicable diseases, and when they are diagnosed positive, only a very few are treated.
The minister spoke at recent national meeting, as the main guest, to mark International Physiotherapy Day, on 8 September.
The event, jointly organised by the Government Physiotherapy Officers Association and the College of Physiotherapy, was held at the Sri Lanka National Hospital Auditorium. The theme of this year's International Physiotherapy Day was “A Healthy Elderly Generation”.
Minister Jayatissa explained that, in addition to the two challenges mentioned, his Ministry considers mental health and nutrition as a third and fourth challenge for the country.
The Ministry of Health, he added, plans to implement various programs and projects to meet these four challenges.
The minister also stated that another future goal of his ministry is to take Sri Lanka to a better level in the Universal Health Index; currently, it ranks 67th.
He stressed that creating a place where people’s basic needs are met, one that is easily accessible and close to those who need primary healthcare, is a priority for the government.
The minister also noted that a treatment centre will be established for a population of 8,000-10,000 people, to be called health and wellness centre.
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30/06/2025 18:06
