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Addressing the Urgency for Healthy Aging in Sri Lanka: Policy Dialogues.
Susie Rasanja Perera1, Yasara Manori Samarakoon2
1Department of Health System Development, World Health Organization, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health
|July 31, 2025
Summary
Sri Lanka faces a significant demographic shift, with one in four people aged 65+ by 2041. This necessitates a resilient, primary healthcare-focused system to address the growing needs of an aging population and noncommunicable diseases.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Public Health
- Health Systems Research
- Demographic Transition Analysis
Background:
- Sri Lanka's population is rapidly aging, with projections indicating a substantial increase in individuals aged 65 and older by 2041.
- This demographic transition is accompanied by a rising old-age dependency ratio, disproportionately affecting women.
- The epidemiological profile is increasingly dominated by noncommunicable diseases, demanding significant health system adaptations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To initiate policy dialogue on healthy aging to support the development of a resilient, primary healthcare-centered health system.
- To enhance evidence-based decision-making by establishing platforms for key stakeholder engagement.
- To identify critical issues for policy development concerning healthy aging within Sri Lanka's evolving health landscape.
Main Methods:
- Framing key policy issues through evidence review and desk research, including policy-related literature.
- Conducting a comprehensive context review to inform the policy dialogue on healthy aging.
- Facilitating focused technical dialogues to develop a conceptual model for health system reorientation.
Main Results:
- The policy dialogue successfully identified key issues and contributed to improved evidence-based decision-making processes.
- Platforms were created to foster pathways and collaboration among key stakeholders in healthy aging.
- A conceptual model was developed to guide the integration of healthy aging strategies within the reoriented health structure.
Conclusions:
- The policy dialogue on healthy aging is crucial for adapting Sri Lanka's health system to demographic and epidemiological changes.
- Strengthening primary healthcare is essential for building a resilient system capable of meeting the demands of an aging population.
- The developed conceptual model provides a framework for policy integration and future health system reorientation.
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