Without the support of the Indian Government terrorism could not be wiped out in Sri Lanka, Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. He was responding to questions at a recent media briefing at the conclusion of the ECOSOC Regional Ministerial Conference in Colombo.

He said that there was no confrontation between the Government Medical Officers’ Association and the Indian doctors conducting a mobile hospital at Pulmudai.

However, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna was attempting to suggest that there was a dispute as they were seeking a new slogan in the backdrop of recent PC polls defeat , he said.

Referring to the Internally Displaced Persons, he said the Government of Mahinda Rajapksa was responsible for their rehabilitation. "We will not throw them out in the open to face difficulties. We are in a position to look after them but whoever comes to help, would not be shut out." Minister said.

He said whenever and whatever assistance was needed, the government would go all out to provide it to the IDPs.

He said already 358 doctors had been sent to the North and East and a batch of 600 nurses moved there subsequently.

In the terrorist held areas only a fourth of the goods sent by the government and other agencies reached the hospitals and civilians, while the rest was grabbed by the terrorists. However, for the sake of the trapped civilians who were their sisters, bothers, fathers and mothers the Government was compelled to send essential goods, he said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that in the course of the discussions over a day and a half the ECOSOC Regional Ministerial Conference deliberated extensively on a number of important issues related to the topic `Financing Strategies for Healthcare’.

He said "I am confident that we have had a productive exchange of views, given the unique nature of this Forum which has brought together a cross section of the key stakeholders dealing with the subject from a variety of perspectives," he added.

He also said that the ongoing global financial crisis and the other crises that the international community was facing today would have an adverse impact on the progress they were achieving in the MDGs, including those in the healthcare sector.

The minister said "Our region has diverse problems. National health expenditures range from fairly high to very low levels, as a percentage of GDP. There was no `one size fits all’ solution. Instead, solutions should be tailor made and geared towards the special needs and peculiar circumstances of each country."

"The civil society and the private sector have critical roles to play. But the public sector has to take the lead or play the role to deliver effectively to provide equitable health services, especially in the current crisis. Public-private partnerships are central for achieving the desired health outcomes," he said. "We need to innovate and nurture approaches that pursue universal and equitable health are," he added.

The Foreign Minister emphasized four key points that emerged from the discussion:

*Firstly, health goals should be pursued through multi-sectoral approaches. All parts of the Government and all actors of the society should be engaged in this endeavour. At the same time, Government’s commitment to promoting the wellbeing of its citizens should remain central to the realization of the health agenda" he said.

*Secondly, domestic financing was the bedrock of national health policies. It had to allocate sufficient resources. Simultaneously, it was essential to find ways to get `more health for the money’. "We need to achieve a more efficient use of available resources".

*Thirdly, for the poorest countries of the region international financing was crucial. This funding had to be adequate and predictable. The country also neededed to pursue innovative ways of generating more financing. This was particularly true in times of crisis.

*Finally, countries in post crisis situations faced unique challenges. There should be a special set of policies to address these challenges. These countries should be provided with special assistance. And, there was a lot that these countries could learn from each other.