The Centre for Health Systems Policy and Innovation (CHSPI) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, hosted the Policy Dialogue on Healthy Ageing: “Global Perspectives on Geriatric Care: Lessons for Policy and Practice” This pivotal event brought together CAPAGE members, local and international experts, policy makers, and healthcare professionals to discuss innovative approaches to geriatric care and policy development.
The session commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Vajira Dissanayake, Director of CHSPI, who underscored the CAPAGE project’s role in fostering global collaboration in geriatric care. This was followed by a presentation on the objectives of CAPAGE by Project Coordinator Dr. Monica Christova from Austria, emphasizing the importance of enriching physiotherapy and nursing curricula with innovative geriatric contents.
An insightful session on the European Geriatric Care Model was presented by Dr. Kristina Grahn from JAMK, Finland, showcasing successful elderly care models that could serve as blueprints for Sri Lanka.
Bringing a local perspective, Dr. Sithira Senevirathne, Consultant Geriatrician from National Hospital of Sri Lanka, addressed the challenges and needs within Sri Lanka’s geriatric care model, highlighting gaps in infrastructure, training, and policy support.
Another crucial aspect discussed was the Geriatric Competency Framework for Nurses and Physiotherapists in Sri Lanka, presented by Prof. Duarte Pereira from Santa Maria Health School, Portugal. His talk emphasized the necessity of standardized competency training to enhance healthcare providers’ capacity in delivering geriatric care.
