Sri Lanka reports impressive health indicators compared to its peers in the South Asian region. Maternal and infant mortality are relatively low, and several intractable communicable diseases have been eliminated. The publicly financed and delivered "free" healthcare system has been critical to these health achievements. Placing the country's healthcare system in historical context, this commentary analyses the contradictions and political tensions surrounding Sri Lanka's 2018 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) policy, with attention to the Ministry of Health's plans for public-private partnerships (PPP). As economic exigencies and private interests increasingly erode the 1951 "Free Health" policy, this commentary calls for a re-envisioning of UHC that can meet people's aspirations for health and social justice.

中文翻译：

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实现全民健康覆盖的公私伙伴关系？斯里兰卡“免费健康”的未来。

与南亚地区的同行相比，斯里兰卡报告了令人印象深刻的健康指标。孕产妇和婴儿的死亡率相对较低，并且已经消除了几种顽固性传染病。公共资助和提供的“免费”医疗保健系统对于这些健康成就至关重要。这篇评论将斯里兰卡的医疗体系置于历史背景下，分析了斯里兰卡2018年全民健康覆盖（UHC）政策周围的矛盾和政治紧张局势，并关注卫生部的公私合作伙伴关系（PPP）计划。随着经济的迫切需求和私人利益越来越侵蚀1951年的“免费健康”政策，这篇评论呼吁重新定义UHC，以满足人们对健康和社会正义的诉求。