An audit report has urged an urgent reform of Sri Lanka’s private healthcare sector, calling for a fair and affordable pricing structure and the grading of all private medical institutions across the country.
The report emphasizes the need for a formal methodology to set, monitor, and evaluate standards for all registered private hospitals and clinics. It also highlights the importance of ensuring minimum qualifications for staff recruitment, maintaining proper training standards, and guaranteeing high-quality patient care.
Additionally, the audit recommends that authorities legalize and enforce these standards and ensure that national recruitment criteria are strictly followed when hiring healthcare professionals.
The report further proposes the establishment of a formal complaint-handling system for the public, including an online platform where grievances against private hospitals can be submitted and addressed promptly.
A senior Health Ministry official told the media that while the Minister has given special attention to strengthening the oversight of private healthcare institutions, the new regulatory system has not yet been implemented.
