Publication: Multisectoral Preventive Health Services in Sri Lanka : Lessons for Developing Countries in Providing Public Goods in Health
Date
2013-08
ISSN
Published
2013-08
Author(s)
Das Gupta, Monica
Dalpatadu, K.C.S.
Shanmugarajah, C.K.
Herath, H.M.S.S.D.
Abstract
What can other developing countries
learn from Sri Lanka on achieving good health at low cost?
While its well-organized medical and maternal-child health
services have been documented elsewhere, this paper fills a
gap in documenting how it organizes services to reduce the
population's exposure to disease -- a pure public good.
The key factors underlying the effectiveness of these
services are (1) strong focal points in the central Health
Ministry for supporting preventive services; (2) pro-active
outreach by the health line agency to collaborate with other
sectors / agents whose work influences public health
outcomes; and (3) community-level delivery institutions with
well-trained multivalent Public Health Inspectors -- all
underpinned by (4) assured tax-based financing. This paper
describes this system in some detail such that other
countries can learn from Sri Lanka's successful
approach to improving population health. It also makes some
recommendations for strengthening the system in response to
changing conditions.
Citation
“Das Gupta, Monica; Dalpatadu, K.C.S.; Shanmugarajah, C.K.; Herath, H.M.S.S.D.. 2013. Multisectoral Preventive Health Services in Sri Lanka : Lessons for Developing Countries in Providing Public Goods in Health. Policy Research Working Paper;No. 6558. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/21475 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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