Pvt. healthcare booming

Anjana Samarasinghe

HEALTHCARE: The private healthcare sector has recorded 20 percent growth last year, Director of Private Health Sector Development Unit, Ministry of Health Dr A. Harsha De Silva, said.

'The Government contracted the private sector in maintaining health in the country.'

'There will be more contracts for the private sector on healthcare services in the future.'

'It is important to have a private-public partnership for laboratory services,' de Silva said.

Sri Lanka has a shortage of 8000 private beds in the hospital industry.

Though there is 60 million consultations made per year there is a huge waiting list for certain medical treatment due to lack of private beds.

It seems there is a huge market potential for the healthcare sector in Sri Lanka and six new private sector hospitals entered the industry last year, he said.

He said that each year the Government spends Rs. 24 billion to Rs. 28 billion in maintaining public health. Recent study reveals that local private sector too spends around Rs. 24 billion for the healthcare in the country. There are nearly 200 private sector hospitals and Nursing homes in Sri Lanka. According to statistics there are around 5000 private pharmacies and 1000 laboratories and six private home nursing services in Sri Lanka.

President of National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka NCCSL Nirmali Samaratunga said the main objective of this event is to create public and professional awareness on last developments in the industry and to have a common platform for buyer-seller meeting.

Arogya 2006 National Healthcare Exhibition is scheduled to be held from May on 5 to 7 at the BMICH and it is organised by NCCSL and the Private Health Sector Development Unit, Ministry of Health.
