Reorienting the Health Work Force For Future Challenges Nursing and Para – Medical Services By D R.Stanley de Silva MBBS (Ceylon) MD (Colombo).

Sri Lanka is experiencing - Changes in Demography (Elderly population is increasing) - Changes in Disease Pattern including Natural Disasters. - Changes in demands from the public.

Among Communicable diseases Dengue Fever Japananese Encephalitis Chikungunya Avian Flu HIV/ AIDS Vector borne diseases

Among Non- Communicable diseases. - Diseases of the Cardio Vascular system. - Metabolic Diseases (Diabetes Mellitus). - Mental Disorders. - Malignancies

In Nursing and Para-Medical Training Programmes Policy changes should be directed towards, -Recruitment -Training -Manpower, Equipment, Duration, Centers, Changes in curricula, Quality, Quantity etc. -Deployment -New Categories -Are they necessary or not? -Present Categories - Should we redefine their roles and responsibilities (duties) ?

In training, strike a balance between Quality and Quantity. Quality - Good trainers - Good centers with up to date equipment. - Tutor/ Student Ratio. - Library facilities. - Finance allocation. - English as the medium of instruction. - Accreditation/ Affiliation. - Higher Education – Degree Programmes. Quantity- Right persons to be selected. - Right numbers.

International Demands.  Nurses  Elderly Care givers  Nursing – Aids  Physiotherapists  Radiographers  Medical Laboratory Technologists  Environmental & Sanitary Officers

Proposals for the future  Establishment of a separate HRH unit at the Ministry of health - Recruitment - Training - Deployment  Training programmes (both basic and in service) should be revisited  International demands – should be taken into consideration  Private- Public partnerships to be favorably considered.

Thank You.