The Sri Lankan Government has decided to use the Ayurvedic Hospital system with 5000 beds as Intermediate Care Centers under the primary supervision of the Ministry of Health. The patients directed to care centers will be allowed to choose desired treatment method either Western of Indigenous medicine.
The decision was taken at a discussion held today between State Minister for Covid Control, Primary Health Care and Epidemiology Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, State Minister S for Indigenous Medicine Sisira Jayakody and other relevant officials .
Director General of Health Dr. Asela Gunawardena and a group of officials from the Ministry of Health and Ayurvedic doctors and officials from the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine were also present at the discussion.
It is proposed to provide basic training on the handling of Covid patients to the Ayurvedic medical staff and to maintain Ayurvedic Intermediate Treatment Centers under the supervision of a Medical Officer under the Ministry of Health and to facilitate the patient to obtain Ayurvedic or Western treatment at their discretion.
The Minister of State has instructed the Director General of Health to issue a series of special instructions to streamline this process.
It is proposed to have Ayurvedic hospitals covering all districts and a five-member committee with two secretaries of the two state ministries is scheduled to organize the relevant activities within a week to expedite the process.
