Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said police personnel record the highest percentage of state employees suffering from non-communicable diseases, highlighting the urgent need for preventive health measures within the force.
Speaking at the launch of the “Arogya” mobile health clinic program for Sri Lanka Police officers in the Gampaha District on Wednesday, the minister noted that around 30 percent of non-communicable disease cases among state sector employees are reported from the police department.
“This is a workforce of about 84,000 officers, carrying some of the heaviest responsibilities in the public sector. Keeping them healthy is critical. At the same time, a significant number of lives are lost in the police service due to non-communicable diseases while on duty,” Jayatissa said.
The “Arogya” program, held under the theme “Healthy Sri Lanka,” provides services including general medical consultations, eye and dental clinics, blood sugar and cholesterol checks, mental health counseling, ayurvedic consultations, and nutrition advice. Patients identified with serious conditions will be referred to government hospitals, including Colombo National Hospital and Negombo Hospital.
More than 600 police officers from Kelaniya, Gampaha, and Negombo divisions participated in the first clinic. Specialists, doctors, nurses, and other staff from major hospitals contributed to the effort.
Jayatissa said the mobile program, introduced under a new initiative of the Ministry of Health, will continue weekly for state sector staff and their families on weekdays, and will be extended to the general public in rural areas on weekends.
He emphasized that the “Healthy Sri Lanka” program has two main goals: maintaining the health of the country’s aging population and combating the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases.