medicine

There are about 42 000 internally or internationally displaced persons within the boundaries of Sri Lanka (Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, 2019). Malaria, TB and dengue awareness programmes are being conducted for them with the collaboration of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and IOM. The health sector of Sri Lanka closely liaises with UNHCR to provide psychosocial support and counselling services to those who are in need (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2018). The MoH collaborates with UNHCR and other stakeholders to conduct awareness-raising sessions for international refugee protection.

5.14 Complementary and alternative medicine, including traditional medicine

In Sri Lanka, the Traditional Medicine (TM)/Indigenous Medicine system comprises Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Deshiya Chikitsa (local indigenous medical practices). The Ayurveda Act, enacted in 1961, regulates the TM system in the country, including TM education. The Department of Ayurveda, Ayurveda Medical Council, Ayurveda College and Hospital Board, and the Ayurveda Research Committee were established under the Ayurveda Act no. 31 of 1961 (Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 1961). The Department of Ayurveda, under the guidance of the MoH, administers and regulates the TM system with the assistance of provincial councils and local government bodies. The Ayurveda Medical Council is the main regulatory body for Ayurvedic practitioners, Ayurveda pharmacists and Ayurveda nurses. In addition, the Council is responsible for formulating rules to regulate ethical conduct and the practice of Ayurveda, and any matter relevant to service provision and education. The Ayurveda College and Hospital Board regulates the content of courses on Ayurvedic medicine, appoints examiners and conducts examinations for awarding diplomas, exhibitions (Jatha dakshina), bursaries, medals and other prizes for students (Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 1961). It regulates and controls admissions, discipline and the moral development of students. The Ayurveda Research Committee is responsible for carrying out research in all branches of Ayurveda to promote its development and provide advice to the Department of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic educational institutions.

The indigenous curative and preventive medical services of the public sector (State) are provided to the public through a network of 708 Ayurvedic hospitals and dispensaries located islandwide. These facilities come under the administrative purview of the indigenous medical sector of the MoH. In Ayurvedic hospitals and dispensaries, indigenous medical OPD care is carried out daily and, in addition, the hospitals provide inpatient care. The necessary medicines are mainly manufactured locally while a few are imported.