2. Organization of Health Services:

2.1. Introduction:

Both public and private sectors provide health care to the people in Central Province. However, public sector plays the major role in providing health care for the people in the Province. The private sector and estates organizations also provide health care to a lesser extent. The Department of Health Services of Central Government and Provincial Government cover the entire range of promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care services in the Province.

The Public Sector, The Major Provider:

The government is the backbone of healthcare in the Central Province. Its services are managed by the Department of Health Services, which is split between the Central Government and the Provincial Government. This system covers the entire range of healthcare services:

• Promotive and Preventive Care: Services focused on maintaining health and preventing disease (e.g., vaccination campaigns, public health education).
• Curative Care: Treatment for illnesses, ranging from minor ailments to major surgeries.
• Rehabilitative Care: Services to help people recover from injury or illness.

The most significant fact about the public system is its dominance in providing in-patient care: nearly 98% of all hospital admissions and overnight care are provided by government health institutions in the province.

The network of public hospitals is extensive. Primary and secondary hospitals are managed by the Provincial Health Department, while specialized tertiary care hospitals (the largest, most advanced centers) are managed by the Central Government's line ministry.

The Role of the Private Sector:

The private sector provides supplementary care, focusing almost entirely on curative services delivered primarily through outpatient facilities.

• Private Practice: Government doctors who conduct paid consultations outside of their official duty hours, and Full-time private doctors (General Practitioners).
• Limited In-patient Facilities: A small number of private hospitals offer overnight stay and advanced treatment.
• Supporting Services: Independent laboratories and pharmacies.

In recent times, some Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) have begun collaborating with the government to help strengthen preventive care services, providing extra support where needed.

Diverse Systems of Medicine:

The Central Province recognizes and practices a variety of medical systems, offering a choice of care to the population:

• Western (Allopathic) Medicine: This is the main system and is primarily managed by the Department of Health Services. It caters to the vast majority of the population's healthcare needs.
• Traditional Systems: The Department of Ayurveda provides care using traditional medical practices (Ayurvedic, Unani, and Siddha).
• Other Systems: Homeopathy is also available to a smaller extent.

While all these systems exist, the Western (allopathic) system remains the primary focus of the government's infrastructure and the first choice for most people.