Medicare 2018, the national healthcare exhibition of Sri Lanka, was held in Colombo from March 2 to 4.
“India-Sri Lanka cooperation in health sector has strengthened in recent years. Let us continue to work together to better and healthier societies," Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka said while speaking at the opening ceremony.
In his keynote address, the High Commissioner of India emphasised the growing number of initiatives in the recent period which have strengthened the bilateral cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
"We have recently agreed on the modalities to operationlise the 1990 Emergency Ambulance Services in Sri Lanka under an Indian grant, fulfilling a commitment made by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his landmark visit to Sri Lanka last year. You would also recall the inauguration of a new District Base Hospital in Dickoya, built under Indian grant. We have also gifted the construction of a hospital in Vavuniya; and provided medical equipment to hospitals in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu. The South Asian Satellite, which India launched in May, will also provide services in tele-medicine, and tele-education. These are important milestones in our bilateral relations," he said.
On the domestic front, Singh highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the government of India in terms of the vast network of primary health care centres, health care programmes such as Ayushman Bharat and provision of affordable and quality healthcare services which has kept the momentum running in the country. He also made a special reference to the private sector contributions in transforming the healthcare landscape of the country.
India's contributions to the world and to Sri Lanka were also reiterated by Dr.Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Government of Sri Lanka and Dr Amal Harsha De Silva, Chairman of Medicare 2018. While Dr Senaratne emphasised on India being one of the largest supplier of medicines and pharma products to the world, Dr De Silva stressed the fact that approximately 60-70 per cent of Sri Lanka's pharma requirements are met by India. Dr. Rajitha Senaratne in her address, invited India to help develop Sri Lanka's traditional medicine sector in which the country specialises heavily.
The Chairman of Medicare 2018, Dr Amal Harsha De Silva, Deputy Director, General Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Government of Sri Lanka, in his welcome address, informed that the show comprises four main segments namely Healthcare Expo for local healthcare providers from the government and private sectors, Medical Tourism Expo for international hospitals to promote their services among the Sri Lankans, Ayurvedic Expo for both local and international companies and the Medical Equipment, Lab and Pharmaceutical Expo for India and international companies to meet local agents, suppliers and relevant Government authorities to set up their businesses in Sri Lanka.
FICCI, the apex industry chamber of India, in partnership with Government of India organised an ‘India Pavilion’ at the Medicare Show. Over 50 Indian companies specialising in healthcare services, medical tourism, pharmaceutical and medical equipment devices and suppliers participated. Moreover, business-to-business interactions were also organised during the event.