Annual Report 2008 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

2. Fiscal Developments - 2008
83
Enhanced Development Expenditure
The overall public investment increased from Rs 229,273
million in 2007 to Rs 263,859 million in 2008. More resources
have been primarily enhanced towards Health, Education
and Infrastructure development to sustain a rapid and
equitable economic growth. Priority development initiatives
were continued in 2008 with a greater emphasis on targeting
the national infrastructure development initiative; “Randora”
and enhancing the provincial and rural infrastructure
development; “Jathika Saviya – Gama Neguma” and “Maga
Neguma” programmes.
Investments in curative health care services have been
significantly increased during 2007-2008. Establishment
of a centre of excellence in Nephrology at Maligawatte,
Colombo, with facilities for diagnosis, dialysis and kidney
transplantation surgery at a cost of Rs. 405 million, was one of
the key development projects completed in 2008. In addition,
the construction of staff quarters for Medical Officers in
remote areas, construction of a surgical treatment complex
at the Kandy General Hospital and provision of medical
equipment including Linear Accelerators are some of the
major development projects implemented in 2008.
Emphasis on Human Resource Development Continues
Priority has been continuously placed on human resource
development by the Government through the provision
of enhanced investment to health, education and skills
development with the aim of building a strong competent
human resource base required for the development of the
country.
Health
The Government earmarked a major share of its investment
for health with an overall policy objective of delivering quality
and modern healthcare services particularly to underserved
areas. The total investment on health in 2008 was Rs 70
billion, indicating an increase of 14 percent over 2007, with a
growing share at both the national and provincial levels.
Chart 2.13
Meanwhile, funds were provided in 2008 for the continuation
of the Matara-Godagama Korea-Sri Lanka Friendship Hospital,
Neuro Trauma Unit at the National Hospital Colombo,
Improvement of Cardiology, Oncology and Maternity wards
at the Kurunegala General Hospital while initiating new
projects with donor assistance such as improvement of the
Anuradhapura General Hospital with JICA assistance,
improvement of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital with
Austrian assistance etc.
Further, the expenditure on Medical Supplies for Government
medical institutions have been increased by 11 percent over
2007 to Rs 12.1 billion in 2008, to meet the cost escalations
and needs of emerging of new medical units.
The assistance given to preventive health programmes was
also continued in 2008. A greater emphasis was given to control
the out break of ‘Chikungunya’ while conducting preventive
programmes on both communicable and non communicable
diseases i.e. Dengue, Rabies, Malaria, cancer etc.
To meet the challenge of human resource shortage in the
health sector, 956 Medical Officers and 2,030 pupil nurses were
recruited in 2008, which added the total number of nurses
recruited to 14,617 under the 15,000 nurses programme.
The investment in traditional systems of medicine namely
Ayurveda and other indigenous systems, has been increased
by 8 percent from 2007 to 2008 with a view to promote
Indigenous System of Medicine to cater to the increasing
demand for such systems.
Ministry of Finance and Planning Sri Lanka
Annual Report 2008