IANS | 25 Jun, 2024
The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved $150 million
in financing for Sri Lanka to improve the quality and utilisation of its
primary healthcare services, according to a statement.
The World Bank on Monday said the project would help improve the quality
of care and increase the use of primary medical care institutions, which
provide essential health services to local communities, reports Xinhua news
agency.
Capacity challenges and the absence of a formal referral mechanism have
led to the underutilisation of primary healthcare facilities and overcrowding
in tertiary care facilities in Sri Lanka, according to the statement.
The previous World Bank-supported project already enhanced 550 Primary
Medical Care Institutions with essential equipment, medicines, health workers
and basic laboratory testing facilities.
The new project will scale up these efforts to cover 100 per cent of
Primary Medical Care Institutions across all districts of Sri Lanka, expanding
to over 1,000 facilities with a more comprehensive service package and improved
quality of care, it said.