Previously, the entire health system of Sri Lanka functioned under a Cabinet minister of the Central Government. However, with the implementation of Provincial Council Act in 1989, the health services were devolved, resulting in the Ministry of Health at the national level and separate Ministries of Health in the nine Provinces.
The Central Ministry of Health plays a major role in development of national health policies and guidelines, training of medical and Para- medical staff, management of teaching hospitals and specialized medical institutions and bulk purchase of medical requisites. The Provincial Health Department is totally responsible for management and effective implementation of health services within the Province, development of policies and guidelines for the Province and also human resource management within the Province.
In the Central Province, the Department of Provincial Health Services is under the Provincial Ministry of Health, Indigenous Medicine, Social Welfare, Probation & Child care Services. There is a Minister and a Secretary to the Ministry.
The Provincial Director is the head of the Provincial Department of Health Services. There are 3 Regional Directors of Health Services (RDHS) for each District. Each RDHS area is geographically similar to the administrative units of District Secretariats. The Medical officers of Health (MOH) are mainly responsible for the preventive care of the respective Divisional Secretary areas and the medical officers in charge of the hospitals are responsible for provision of curative care through their institutions.