Blog Archives

Much-needed Family Health Care Centre for Jaffna-BY Consultant Family Physician, Dr. S. Kumaran, and Viduni Basnayake Source:Island This article describes the experiences of a novel, evidence-based approach that involves patients, and their family members, in delivering health care, providing medical education, and conducting research, at a primary care institution, called a Family Health Care Centre. The Northern Province, in Sri Lanka, is a war-ravaged region that lags behind the rest of the country, in economic development. After the COVID-19 pandemic had already squeezed the health services of its limited resources, the current financial crisis has pushed the sector to the brink of collapse. This crisis puts patients at further risk due to power outages, a lack of medicine, and equipment shortages. Another major issue, caused by the economic collapse, is the shortage of human resources. In addition, frequent protests, brought on by political unrest, disrupt the provision of health services. ...