Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi on Friday said that the medical administrators had been the pillars of her strength and helped her fulfil duties as the Minister of Health. She thanked them for their contributiong to mitigating the ill-effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing the 27th Annual Scientific Sessions of College of Medical Administrators of Sri Lanka, the Minister said: “It is my pleasure to mention your contribution to mitigating the current pandemic despite your routine medical administrative duties. I mention proudly that with your support we have been able to provide all essential services while attending to control COVID-19.”

Extracts of her speech: It gives me an immense pleasure to address the inauguration ceremony of the 27th Annual Scientific Sessions of College of Medical Administrators of Sri Lanka. I was determined to be here considering the importance of this subject to the Ministry of Health and I wanted to honour this prestigious college for inviting me.

Sri Lanka’s health sector is internationally renowned as a people-oriented health system. Despite being a medium income country, we are providing healthcare free to the persons who seek care. I emphasise that such a great health sector is run by a group of capable medical administrators at various levels. It may be a policy level at the Health Ministry, director of a tertiary care hospital or a medical superintendent in a base hospital, you all medical administrators are working hard and contributing your best to our health system.

Also, it is my duty to mention and appreciate all the medical administrators who have been working tirelessly to make our health sector successful and for taking this system to the status we are entertaining today.

You are my pillars of strength and have helped me fulfil my duties as the Minister of Health.

I would like to request all the medical administrators that as we have achieved many health goals, indicators and targets, to focus their attention to the quality of our services. I expect all health institutions to be people-friendly hospitals and all workers under your supervision to be kind to all those who come and seek care from their respective hospitals or health institutions. I emphasise that quantity and quality should go together in equal measure.

I look forward to very effective, carefully developed plan for improving your own areas for the next year after a comprehensive analysis of your gaps. I have no hesitation to extend my blessing and support to yield good impact in every district, bringing new essence of quality health services.

With your support, we should be able to establish centres of excellence in each and every province. Also, we should not forget about universal health coverage, giving healthcare close to home upgrading all the health institutions at the basic grass root level. We must build the faith in our general public that their basic health needs are attended in their local area itself, without travelling many miles to the next level of care. Let us build and improve further, an accessible by all health care, keeping with the concept of “Leaving No One Behind”.

You are the leaders of your responsible sectors and other subordinates are following you. Therefore being example to others is a compulsory thing which should be showcased by heads of institutions.

I am happy to note that distancing has been attended in arranging this event and I expect that until the closure of the event you will adhere to universal health precautions throughout. Despite a situation of pandemic, I congratulate the President and the Council of this prestigious college for arranging this important annual event. I suppose all administrators will gain good knowledge, develop attitudes and this will be a forum to share your best practice. This kind of exposure will lead to improvement of your leadership qualities and will contribute to further improvement of our health sector.