President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Reviews Health and Media Budget Projects
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a review meeting yesterday (19) at the Presidential Secretariat to evaluate projects implemented under the 2025 budgetary allocations for the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, while also holding a pre-budget discussion for 2026.
The meeting focused on allocations made for 41 institutions under four departments of the Ministry and examined the progress of related projects.
Strengthening Primary Healthcare
The President instructed officials to prioritize strengthening primary healthcare services. Currently, one Primary Health Centre operates per 30,000 people. Plans are in place to improve this to one centre per 10,000 people. Discussions also touched on organisational and structural reforms in line with modern technology and social needs.
Medical Equipment and Essential Services
Key issues of medical equipment procurement were addressed, with consideration given to updating procurement guidelines, including those for the Ayurvedic sector. The President emphasized enhancing the facilities of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority to ensure medicine quality. He further directed that essential vehicles required for services like the National Blood Transfusion Service be acquired this year.
New Health Policy and Human Resource Development
The President highlighted the need to modernize both physical and human resources in the health sector. He confirmed that a new National Health Policy and Strategic Plan will be launched next year to meet technological advancements and population growth.
The “Suwa Seriya” ambulance service will also be expanded from its current 272 ambulances to 400, significantly improving emergency healthcare access across the country.
Media and Postal Service Modernization
Future plans for the Ministry of Mass Media were also discussed. The President stressed the importance of state media in shaping public attitudes and instructed officials to prepare an engagement plan with budget allocations for this purpose.
Additionally, modernization of the Postal Service was highlighted, with a focus on integrating courier services and technology to better suit present-day requirements.
Effective Use of Allocations
The President noted that while past budgets lacked adequate allocations, the most recent budget provided sufficient funds across sectors. He stressed the need for proper utilization to ensure maximum public benefit.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr. Anil Jasinghe, and other senior officials.
