Addressing a health seminar held at the Health Education Bureau today (01), Director General of Health Services Dr. Palitha Mahipala said that Rs.45 billion will be spent on purchasing drugs. The three cancer hospitals to be built at Thilippale, Kandy and Matara. Maternity Hospitals will also be developed using funds. He further reiterated that there was no drug shortage in the country at the moment.

According to Dr. Mahipala, at the moment Sri Lankan women's health is in a high standard and they enjoy a life expectancy of 78.8 years while Sri Lankan men enjoy a life expectancy of 72.8. There are 8,000 maternal clinics in the country and 100 percent of child births take place in hospitals, There are 900 Suwa Naari Sayana (well woman clinics) countrywide.

Dr. Mahipala pointed out that all married couples between the ages of 15 to 45 are being registered and receive the service of a family health worker (mid-wife) who visit homes. No other country in the world has this type of advanced health coverage for the population, he added.