Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2023-06-05

The National Policy and the Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka

- Heart diseases, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetic are the leading causes to a large percentage of deaths in Sri Lanka caused by non-communicable diseases accounting to approximately 120,000 deaths in each year. Use of tobacco, harmful use of alcohol, obesity, high blood pressure, raised blood sugar level, raised blood cholesterol level have been found as main factors for such diseases. Therefore, the health system should be strengthened to provide screening services for early detection and timely treatment. The first National Policy for prevention of Non-communicable Diseases was declared in 2009 and the revised new policy has been drafted with the participation of all relevant parties after evaluating and reviewing the said policy. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Health to implement the National Policy and the Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka and publish the same in the Government Gazette, was approved by the Cabinet.