Health systems in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s public spending on health was 1.5 per cent of GDP in 2011, equivalent to US$97 per capita. In the most recent survey, conducted between 1997 and 2010, there were 49 doctors, and 193 nurses and midwives per 100,000 people. Additionally, in the period 2001-12, 99 per cent of births were attended by qualified health staff and in 2012, 99 per cent of one-year-olds were immunised with one dose of measles. In 2011, 93 per cent of people were using an improved drinking water source and 91 per cent had access to adequate sanitation facilities. The most recent survey, conducted in the period 2000-11, reports that Sri Lanka has four pharmaceutical personnel per 100,000 people.
Health and medical services in Sri Lanka are provided by both the public and private sector. The provision of public health service in Sri Lanka takes place at the central, provincial, district and divisional levels. Most people live within 5 km of a health facility. Private sector health services also play an important role, with a relatively low-cost private health care sector. There are some pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in the country, although the vast majority of pharmaceutical requirements are imported.