මුල් පිටුව › About Us
අප ගැන
Who we are, what we do and how the provincial health system is organised to serve the people of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts.
WHO WE ARE
The Provincial Department of Health Services
In the North Central Province, the Department of Provincial Health Services is under the Ministry of Health, Indigenous Medicine, Social Welfare, Probation & Child Care Services. There is a Minister and a Secretary to the Ministry. The Provincial Director of Health Services (PDHS) is the head of the Department, and there is a Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) for each district. Each RDHS area is geographically similar to the administrative units of the District Secretariats.
The Provincial Health Department is totally responsible for the management and effective implementation of health services within the province, the development of policies and guidelines for the province, and human resource management within the province.
Curative care
Provincial hospitals and primary care units
Preventive care
MOH areas and field health teams
NCP at a glance
The province we serve
The North Central Province is the largest province in Sri Lanka by land area, covering the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts. Our health services reach every one of its 29 Divisional Secretariat divisions through 30 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas. Tap a division on the map to see its MOH area and nearest base hospital.
Anuradhapura District
RDHS Anuradhapura
Our health network by district
Provincial hospitals and primary medical care units managed by the PDHS (90 in total).
Sources: Department of Census & Statistics – Census of Population and Housing 2012 and 2024; institution counts from the PDHS NCP institution register. Division boundaries are Divisional Secretariat boundaries (geoBoundaries); MOH areas follow them except Dimbulagala, which is served by Aralaganwila and Siripura MOH areas. Hospital markers show the division, not the exact site.
OUR DIRECTION
Vision, Mission & Values
දැක්ම
A Healthy People in a Prosperous Province
මෙහෙවර
Improving disease prevention and curative services, strengthening community participation, promoting inter-sectoral coordination and research activities, and improving accessible healthcare services for the community to create a healthy and empowered society.
Goal
To improve the health status of the people by strengthening provincial health institutions, public health programmes and the health workforce.
Our core values
Equity
Fair access for every community
Quality
Safe, evidence-based care
Compassion
Respect and dignity for all
Accountability
Transparent use of resources
Teamwork
Working together across services
Integrity
Honesty in everything we do
BACKGROUND
Health services in the provincial system
How health services came to be managed by the province.
Devolution of health services
Previously, the entire health system of Sri Lanka functioned under a Cabinet Minister of the Central Government. However, with the implementation of the Provincial Council Act in 1989, health services were devolved, resulting in the Ministry of Health at the national level and separate Ministries of Health in the nine provinces.
The Central Ministry of Health plays a major role in the development of national health policies and guidelines, training of medical and para-medical staff, management of teaching hospitals and specialised medical institutions, and bulk purchase of medical requisites.
Preventive and curative care
The Medical Officers of Health (MOH) are mainly responsible for the preventive care of their respective Divisional Secretary areas.
The medical officers in charge of the hospitals are responsible for the provision of curative care through their institutions.
Governance
How health services are governed
Health services in Sri Lanka are delivered through two linked tiers. The Ministry of Health sets national policy, runs teaching and specialised hospitals and leads national programmes. Since devolution under the 13th Amendment, the Provincial Department of Health Services manages health care within the North Central Province through its two Regional Directors of Health Services.
- National Hospital
- Teaching Hospitals
- Special Hospitals
- District General Hospitals
- Special Base Hospitals
- Health Promotion Bureau
- Epidemiology Unit
- Non-Communicable Disease Unit
- Mental Health Directorate
- Youth, Elderly & Disabled
- Food Safety
- Family Health Bureau
- National Programme for TB & Chest Diseases
- Anti Malaria Campaign
- National Dengue Control Unit
- Anti Leprosy Campaign
- National STD/AIDS Control Programme
- Public Health Veterinary Services (Rabies)
- Biomedical Engineering Services
- Medical Supplies Division
- Finance Division
- Administration Branch
National policy, technical guidance & programmes continue to flow to the province
- Base Hospitals (A, B)9
- Divisional Hospitals (A, B, C)41
- Primary Medical Care Units40
- Medical Officers of Health (MOH)30
- Regional Programme Officers
- CCP · Consultant Venereologist
KEY HEALTH ISSUES
Health challenges of the North Central Province
The main health issues the Department is working to address across the province.
Changing demographics and disease patterns
e.g. CKD, CKDu and NCDs
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
e.g. Leishmaniasis and Leprosy
Limited resources
Increased demand and expectations
from the public
Ensuring good governance
Delivering quality services
Maternal and infant deaths
Reducing maternal death and infant death
Maternal and child malnutrition
Knowledge and capacity of health staff
Updating skills of the workforce
OUR COMMITMENTS
Specific Objectives
The specific objectives of the Provincial Department of Health Services.
- To provide technical advice in policy formulation, planning and programming on promotion of health through advocacy, behaviour change communication, social marketing and community mobilization.
- To support various health programmes conducted by the Department of Health Services and other health-related sectors through advocacy, behaviour change communication and social mobilization for health actions.
- To promote, support and undertake planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of health promotion programmes in different settings.
- To promote health care consciousness among the masses through mass media.
- To develop the capacities of manpower, both within and outside the Department of Health Services, to act as health promoters and change agents through advocacy, behaviour change communication and social mobilization.
- To educate and empower the public on health issues, to enable them to increase control over and promote individual and community health.
- To coordinate with health-related governmental, non-governmental and international agencies and organizations in promoting the health of people.
- To develop managerial capacities of health and health-related sectors to manage health promoting programmes.
- To monitor and evaluate health promoting programmes and facilitate their monitoring and evaluation at different levels.
- To support and undertake research related to behaviour change of the community and social mobilization.
WHAT WE DO
Key functions of the Department
The Department provides leadership and support to all provincial health institutions and programmes.
- Planning and development of provincial health services
- Management of provincial hospitals and primary care units
- Implementation of national public health programmes
- Human resource management and staff development
- Procurement, medical supplies and asset management
- Financial management and budgeting
- Health information, monitoring and evaluation
- Coordination with the Ministry of Health and partners
HOW WE ARE ORGANISED
Organisation Structure
Simplified structure. See all health institutions »
LEADERSHIP
Our management team
OUR JOURNEY
Milestones
1987
Provincial Councils established
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution created Provincial Councils and devolved health services to the provinces.
1989
Health services devolved
With the implementation of the Provincial Council Act, health services were devolved, creating separate provincial Ministries of Health.
Today
A province-wide health network
The Department supports hospitals, primary care units and MOH areas across Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts.
Need help or information?
Contact the Provincial Department of Health Services or send us a query – we are here to help.
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