The President said the government is “changing the culture” of casual hospital visits, where people seek treatment “when they go to the market” or “when they come to the junction”.
Under the new system, patients will need a referral from a designated family doctor or primary care physician before accessing major hospitals.
“The population is 22 million, yet the number of hospital consultations for medicine annually is 80 million,” he said, noting that this equates to an average of four visits per person per year, including those who do not seek care at all.
“Why? Because there is no standardisation and no referral system. The patient decides where to go and which doctor to consult.”
To address this, the government plans to construct 1,000 primary healthcare centres next year. Each will be staffed by a primary care doctor who will act as the gatekeeper to higher-level facilities.
“If they tell you, ‘Take some simple tablets and rest,’ you go home and rest instead of collecting unnecessary medicines,” the President said at a rally in Beruwala.
Partial use of prescribed drugs has led to “massive waste” and is “indeed a crime,” he added.
The President also outlined plans to equip all required hospitals with Cath Lab machines from next year’s budget, rejecting piecemeal installations.
“Installing one in Kalubowila occasionally, and another in Kandy is ineffective. We must install them simultaneously where needed,” he said, directing health officials to specify exact locations and confirm staff availability.
“Tell us the locations, specify where the staff is available, and we will arrange to provide Cath Labs to all hospitals from next year's budget.”
A similar approach will be taken for ambulances, he added, criticising ad hoc purchases that leave gaps in coverage.
“We do not just hand over an ambulance here or there on a whim. How many ambulances do we need to maintain an optimal ambulance service?” he asked, noting that once the Health Ministry provides the required number -- whether 500 or otherwise -- the government will procure them in full.
“If it is 500, we will buy all 500, and that resolves the issue once and for all. Otherwise, if we buy one today, by the time we distribute more, the first one is broken, and the gap is never fully filled.”
He said these measures form part of a broader push to bring healthcare, education, transport and the wider state machinery under a unified digital system.
He did not specify what the mechanics of the new system would be and whether it is to prevent walk-in patients to hospital OPDs or whether it will also prevent channelling of doctors at other locations without pressuring the tax payer funded system (Colombo/Sept 6/2026)