Sri Lanka | Physicians (per 1,000 people)

Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners. Development relevance: The WHO estimates that at least 2.5 medical staff (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1,000 people are needed to provide adequate coverage with primary care interventions (WHO, World Health Report 2006). Limitations and exceptions: The WHO compiles data from household and labor force surveys, censuses, and administrative records. Data comparability is limited by differences in definitions and training of medical personnel varies. In addition, human resources tend to be concentrated in urban areas, so that average densities do not provide a full picture of health personnel available to the entire population. Statistical concept and methodology: Health systems - the combined arrangements of institutions and actions whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, or maintain health (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000) - are increasingly being recognized as key to combating disease and improving the health status of populations. The World Bank's Healthy Development: Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems, which are weak in many countries, in order to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing specific diseases and further reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that key components - such as financing, service delivery, workforce, governance, and information - be monitored using several key indicators. The data are a subset of the key indicators. Monitoring health systems allows the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of different health system models to be compared. Health system data also help identify weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, such as additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Data on health worker (physicians, nurses and midwives, and community health workers) density show the availability of medical personnel.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Records
63
Source
Sri Lanka | Physicians (per 1,000 people)
1960 0.223
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965 0.172
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970 0.169
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975 0.169
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981 0.134
1982 0.134
1983
1984
1985 0.181
1986
1987
1988
1989 0.146
1990
1991 0.14
1992 0.167
1993 0.208
1994 0.186
1995 0.223
1996 0.279
1997 0.305
1998 0.346
1999 0.375
2000 0.424
2001 0.443
2002
2003
2004 0.538
2005 0.518
2006 0.517
2007 0.549
2008 0.615
2009 0.671
2010 0.71
2011 0.723
2012 0.747
2013 0.781
2014 0.819
2015 0.845
2016 0.876
2017 0.911
2018 0.988
2019 1.137
2020 1.212
2021 1.192
2022

Sri Lanka | Physicians (per 1,000 people)

Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners. Development relevance: The WHO estimates that at least 2.5 medical staff (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1,000 people are needed to provide adequate coverage with primary care interventions (WHO, World Health Report 2006). Limitations and exceptions: The WHO compiles data from household and labor force surveys, censuses, and administrative records. Data comparability is limited by differences in definitions and training of medical personnel varies. In addition, human resources tend to be concentrated in urban areas, so that average densities do not provide a full picture of health personnel available to the entire population. Statistical concept and methodology: Health systems - the combined arrangements of institutions and actions whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, or maintain health (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000) - are increasingly being recognized as key to combating disease and improving the health status of populations. The World Bank's Healthy Development: Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems, which are weak in many countries, in order to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing specific diseases and further reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that key components - such as financing, service delivery, workforce, governance, and information - be monitored using several key indicators. The data are a subset of the key indicators. Monitoring health systems allows the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of different health system models to be compared. Health system data also help identify weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, such as additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Data on health worker (physicians, nurses and midwives, and community health workers) density show the availability of medical personnel.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Records
63
Source