The reputed UK medical journal, The Lancet, has placed Sri Lanka ahead of all but one its South Asian neighbors in access to healthcare and quality.
According to the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) published in the latest issue of the UK medical journal, Sri Lanka has been ranked at 73, while only Maldives from SAARC region stood ahead with a ranking of 76.
The index is based on cause of death and risk factor estimates in relation to over 30 medical conditions including TB, Rheumatic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, Tetanus, maternal disorders, respiratory infections, Leukaemia and certain types of common cancer, that can be avoided or treated with proper medical care.
Bhutan at 53, Bangladesh
52, Nepal 51 Pakistan 43 and Afghanistan ranked at a dismal 32 were lagging behind Sri Lanka.
Andorra (95) and Iceland (94) have the best healthcare systems in the world while among the first world the UK and US have comparatively poor systems. The study had covered 196 countries and the rankings were given on a scale of 0-100.
The study represents the first effort to assess access and quality of services in 195 countries from 1990 to 2015. Researchers used a Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index, based on death rates from 32 causes that could be avoided by timely and effective medical care, known as “amenable mortality.” It The researchers aim to use these results to better understand gaps and opportunities for improving health care access throughout the developed and developing worlds.