Health status, trends, and issues in Sri Lanka.
It is widely recognized that better health is a prerequisite for the overall economic and social development of a nation. Sri Lanka, like many other countries experiencing the epidemiological transition, will have to make effective decisions on health-care service management and the development of education and training programs for health-care professionals. This paper provides a comprehensive review of current health service administration, health status, trends and issues, and health financing and resource allocation in Sri Lanka. The review revealed that Sri Lanka has achieved a relatively high health status given a low level of spending on its health-care services; however, Sri Lanka still experiences vital health problems in all stages of the life cycle, mainly related to lifestyle and the epidemiological transition associated with widespread societal and economic crises.
Jayasekara
Rasika S
RS
Discipline of Nursing, JBI Research Unit, School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. rasika.jayasekara@adelaide.edu.au
Schultz
Tim
T
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D004190:Disasters; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000639:trends; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000639:trends; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D019456:Health Transition; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000639:trends*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D014857:Warfare