Sri Lanka has achieved rapid progress in health care delivery due to cost-efficient use of resources and the coordinated use of its well ingrained primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities, Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senarathne said, upon addressing the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva.

The Government Information Department stated that the Minister’s address was delivered at the 70th WHA on May 23.

Minister Senarathne who is leading the Sri Lanka delegation at the ongoing 70th WHA also updated the Assembly on the progressive action taken by the Government in combating Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), such as introducing 80% pictorial warning on tobacco, increasing the tobacco tax up to 90%, and the introduction of a ‘traffic light labeling system’ to control sugar in fizzy drinks.

Government sources added that he also called for increased partnership in combating Dengue and H1N1.

Meanwhile, on May 21, Minister Rajitha Senaratne addressed the Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting, where he outlined Sri Lanka’s successes in the health sector, where the success received the commendation of the health ministers present at the meeting.

The Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland praised Sri Lanka on its higher quality outcome achieved at a minimum cost, and indicated that this was a model that could be replicated across the Commonwealth.

She made these remarks during a bilateral meeting with Minister Senarathne, and requested Sri Lanka to consider leading within the Commonwealth on digital-health.

According to government sources, in celebration of the success of World Health Organization (WHO) certification of elimination of Malaria, Sri Lanka, together with the Maldives and the Regional Office of the WHO in New Delhi, organized a special event on May 22 on the sidelines of the 70th WHA in Geneva, which was graced by Dr. Margeret Chan, Director General of the WHO.