News
Thambuttegama residents get expert medical care with ADB-funded health system
View(s):By Ishu Bandara
Thambuttegama residents suffering from various illnesses have been offered a ray of hope with an Asian Development Bank and World Bank funded Cluster Health Information System (CHIS). This gives them the opportunity to receive expert consultancy support directly in their communities, ensuring that no patient is left behind because of geographic location or economic status.
On September 10, the Sunday Times, along with other media, visited Thambuttegama Base Hospital to see the facility firsthand and review the progress of the CHIS, initiated by the then government in 2018 when it picked a pilot hospital to launch the system.
ADB's H B Jayasundara, Dr Prabath Jayakodi, Dr V Jayampathi, Dr Anil Dissanayake, ADB's Takafumi Kadono
The CHIS is a digital healthcare platform designed to modernise Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare services by organising them into integrated networks. CHIS is also known as the “shared care cluster system”. The system’s main purpose is to create a single digital patient record that authorised doctors can access across the network. Patients are given a health card, which allows doctors to instantly access their complete medical history, lab results, X-rays, and prescriptions.
This CHIS provides faster, more accurate treatment and improved clinical decision making, eliminates the need for patients to carry physical records and undergo repetitive tests, bridge the gap between remote villages and urban medical expertise by allowing rural doctors to electronically consult with specialists, reduce overcrowding in major hospitals and ensure more equitable use of healthcare resources.
Among those benefiting was Yasawathi, the mother of a young patient, who shared her relief with the Sunday Times: “Now we are happy because we don’t have to travel long distances to see consultant doctors when we need them. This system is very effective, and we don’t have to spend so much time inside the hospital, as everything has become easier and faster.”
Thambuttegama Base Hospital was picked in 2018 for pilot project Pix by M A Pushpa Kumara
This initiative is part of the Health System Enhancement Project (HSEP), launched by the Health Ministry with financial and technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which has been instrumental in making the project a reality. The project, which began in 2018 with joint support from the ADB and the World Bank, initially had a broader scope. However, the Covid-19 pandemic caused significant delays and forced a reallocation of funds.
On a recent site visit to Thambuttegama Base Hospital, ADB’s Country Director for Sri Lanka, Takafumi Kadono, led a delegation accompanied by officials from the bank’s Sri Lanka office. The visit, which included journalists, demonstrated the progress of initiatives supported by the bank.
Thambuttegama Base Hospital was picked in 2018 for pilot project Pix by M A Pushpa Kumara
Mr Kadono told media: “The Health System Enhancement Project (HSEP) is a major step in transforming Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare system. With strong financial and technical support from ADB, a total of $163 million, including a $147.5 million loan and a $15.5 million grant, this project is reaching around seven million people across the Central, North Central, Uva, and Sabaragamuwa provinces.”
He explained that the project focuses on improving infrastructure, service delivery, and health information systems, especially for under served and vulnerable populations. “During the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent economic crisis, HSEP proved crucial, as it allowed us to repurpose funds to meet urgent healthcare needs,” Kadono added.
Talking about key achievements, he said, “We have upgraded 125 Primary Medical Care Units and divisional hospitals, renovated 106 field health centers, provided vehicles for maternal and child health services, and expanded elderly care, mental health, and NCD prevention services. Our digital health infrastructure and disease surveillance systems have also been strengthened, helping improve patient management and data driven decision making.”
Kadono highlighted the Shared Care Cluster Model as a cornerstone of the project. “This model integrates primary, secondary, and tertiary care within defined clusters, promoting continuity of care and better patient outcomes. Although funding constraints limited rollout to two pilot clusters, Thambuttegama and Dambulla, these sites are already demonstrating how digital tools and coordinated care can work effectively.”
“We are closely monitoring the pilots, learning from challenges, and preparing to expand this model as more resources become available. With ADB’s support, this is a crucial step toward modernising Sri Lanka’s healthcare system for the benefit of all citizens.”
According to Dr Prabath Jayakodi, Director of Thambuttegama Hospital, this led to a strategic revision where the project was scaled down to a pilot phase in select clusters to test and ensure success. Thambuttegama and Dambulla were chosen for this pilot phase, which is expected to be completed by November 30. Despite the scaled down approach, these pilots are generating valuable insights that will guide the future nationwide expansion of the model.
Despite the progress brought by digital transformation, the Sunday Times observed that Thambuttegama Base Hospital still faces significant challenges, underscoring the ongoing need for improved infrastructure and facilities. For example, the elderly eye checking area lacks sufficient seating, forcing some patients to sit on the floor.
Dr Jayakodi highlighted the hospital’s “serious shortage of basic infrastructure”. He noted that medical wards and washrooms are outdated and in poor condition, and that he has been struggling to secure donations to upgrade these essential facilities. The hospital treats a high volume of patients, admitting around 240 inpatients and seeing between 500 to 700 outpatients (OPD) daily.
Patients, when approached by the Sunday Times, also pointed out that despite the efficiency of the new system, there are frequent shortages of medicine, often requiring them to purchase prescribed drugs from private pharmacies.
Hospital officials said their end goal is a fully integrated healthcare system, connecting public and private services so that all citizens can access quality care. They expressed deep appreciation for partners like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for their vital support in helping make this a reality.
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