In a major effort to address long-standing infrastructure gaps and modernise public healthcare, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved 39 development projects set for implementation starting in 2027. The initiative targets state health institutions across the country, focusing on upgrading hospital capacity, integrating digital health records, and decentralising primary healthcare through new community wellness centres.
Key Highlights
- Cabinet Approval: 39 out of 41 evaluated proposals were cleared by the Department of National Planning for implementation under the 2027–2031 Public Investment Program.
- Infrastructure Target: Comprehensive upgrades will focus on tertiary-level facilities, including district, teaching, national, and specialized hospitals.
- ‘Arogya’ Wellness Network: A network of localized primary care centres will be set up within a 1–2 kilometre radius to serve communities and reduce overcrowding at major hospitals.
- NIC-Linked Digital Records: Advanced ICT integration will issue citizens e-health records linked to their National Identity Card (NIC) numbers for seamless referrals.
- Workforce Expansion: Over 1,000 Public Health Nursing Officers (PHNOs) are being trained and recruited to staff the expanding primary care network.
Upgrading Tertiary Hospital Capacity
Speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing, Cabinet Spokesman and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the approved projects follow extensive evaluations of 41 proposals submitted during 2025 and 2026.
“Of the 41 proposals reviewed, 39 were assessed as ready for implementation, with provisions for these to be allocated through the 2027 Budget,” Dr. Jayatissa noted. The approved projects aim to relieve intense pressure on high-level state hospitals, including national, teaching, district, and specialized health facilities across the island.
Decentralising Care with ‘Arogya’ Wellness Centres
Addressing severe overcrowding at outpatient departments (OPD), Dr. Jayatissa detailed the government’s flagship ‘Arogya’ wellness centre campaign. Inspired by global primary care frameworks—including the WHO’s Alma-Ata Declaration—and India’s Ayushman Bharat model, the initiative targets local hospitals and underserved provincial facilities left out of previous development cycles.
“Tertiary-level hospitals have reached capacity, particularly in OPD and clinic services, with patients often travelling long distances for care that could be delivered closer to home,” Dr. Jayatissa explained. The initiative aims to position primary healthcare centres within a 1–2 kilometre radius for every 10,000 citizens, with long-term plans to halve that ratio to 5,000 patients per centre.
Digital Health Integration and Workforce Recruitment
To streamline patient care between facility levels, the government is introducing an e-health tracking system. Citizens will receive a unique health record linked directly to their National Identity Card (NIC), enabling primary care providers to manage patient histories and coordinate necessary referrals to secondary or specialized hospitals.
Following an initial budget allocation of Rs. 1,500 million in 2026, the government expects to expand funding in the 2027 Budget. To support the operational rollout, 260 Public Health Nursing Officers (PHNOs) have completed training, 300 are currently enrolled, and an additional 500 nursing officers will be recruited in the coming phase.