The Minister of Health of Sri Lanka, Hon. Maithripala Sirisena called upon the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare of India, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, on 3 August, 2011. The two Ministers recounted the close historical and cultural ties existing between India and Sri Lanka.

Shri Azad appreciated the progress made by Sri Lanka in Public Health and achieving reduction in IMR, MMR and Communicable Diseases burden. He mentioned the concrete steps being taken by India under the National Rural Health Mission to strengthen the health infrastructure in the rural areas, particularly in backward, inaccessible and remote districts and said that these investments have started showing results in the form of declining maternal and infant mortality rates now.

The recent cooperation in the health sector between India and Sri Lanka was noted and it was agreed that this cooperation would only be further strengthened by this bilateral meeting. As part of its development cooperation programme with Sri Lanka, the Government of India has supplied medical equipment for the Jaffna Teaching Hospital in January 2011. The Government of India is also supplying medical equipment to two General Hospitals in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu and helping with the construction of a 150-bed base hospital in Dickoya, which started in March 2011. The Government of India has also announced a gift of a Bhabhatron Radiotherapy Machine to the Government of Sri Lanka. Preparations are also underway by the Government of India to set up a month long limb re-fitment camp (in association with Jaipur Foot) in Jaffna this year.

The Sri-Lankan delegation sought further assistance in the training of medical and paramedical personnel (Short Term Skill Upgradation; Long Term Degree Courses). It also sought advice and guidance in procurement procedures of medical equipment, devices and medicines (mostly generic drugs for the public health program) as nearly 80% of the supplies to Sri Lanka comes from Indian pharma companies. Shri Azad assured full assistance to Sri Lanka on all issues raised by the visiting delegation.

Colombo