Reorienting the Health Work Force For Future Challenges Nursing and Para – Medical Services By D R .Stanley de Silva

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

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

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

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

7. 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) ?

8. 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.

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

10. 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.

11. Thank You.