Delivering the keynote address at the launch of the report of the Sri Lanka's first ever 'National Survey on Self-Reported Health in Sri Lanka - 2014'  yesterday (5th July) in Colombo, Secretary held the government invested Rs.39, 992 million through 87 projects and 64 annual projects for health care improvement last year.

Dr.A.J. Satharasinghe, DG of DCS, Prof. Saroj Jayasinghe, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Alain Sibenaler, Country Representative of the UNFPA were also present.

The year-long National Survey on Self-Reported (without medical tests or clinical examinations) Health in Sri Lanka was conducted by the Department of  Census and Statistics (DCS) in 2014 to meet the much needed health statistics on chronic illnesses, acute illnesses, and some other important areas at household level. According to the survey, 18% of the population has reported some chronic illness. The overall disease prevalence shows variations by sex, age, geographic location, and occupation, industry and employment groups. It shows that, 15 percent of the total population has received treatments for any acute illness considered in the study during four weeks prior to the survey.

The report carrying all the findings of the survey is now available in www.statistics.gov.lk.