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provides a legal framework to the Traditional Medicine system of Sri Lanka, there is no

single, comprehensive Traditional Medicine (TM) policy document that steers the general
policy direction of the government with regard to the Traditional Medicine sector up to

date. Hence National Traditional Medicine policy was drafted by the Department of
Ayurveda, Ministry of Health as WHO collaborative activity in 2022-2023.

2.4 Present healthcare system

The allopathic health system constitutes both curative and preventive services.

Preventive healthcare is provided through 354 geographically defined areas covering the
whole island. Each area is served by a medical officer of health (MOH) and a team of

community-based professionals who provide a well-defined package of preventive services.
Curative care encompasses different levels, ranging from outpatient-only facilities and

primary care institutions to tertiary-care institutions and specialised hospitals organised
into a hierarchical network. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is the principal agency

responsible for promoting, supporting, controlling, and coordinating all health services
activities for the well-being of the Sri Lankan people.

Meanwhile, the Department of Ayurveda is the key focal point of the traditional
medicine sector which is responsible for the health and well-being of the citizen. In

addition, several other ministries play significant roles in medical and health development
programmes such as the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of

Defence, and the private sector. These agencies have health facilities including hospitals
that provide primary, secondary, and tertiary medical services. During the last decade,
T raditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report
private hospitals and clinics have been expanding rapidly in Colombo and other provincial
cities. Ayurveda community medical service was established in 2008 and the government

has introduced a new carder position as Community Medical Officer of Ayurveda
(ACMOs) into the healthcare delivery system with a mandate of disease prevention and

health promotion at community levels through traditional medicine. They have been
appointed at the Divisional Secretariat level.

The present healthcare system of the country provides free healthcare facilities
through allopathic and Ayurveda government hospitals, private hospitals as well as

primary healthcare through both systems in 9 provinces of the country at the community
level. (Population in 1000’s - 21,670.0 in Sri Lanka). Population distribution by the 9

provinces is given in Table 1.

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