Progress of CRVSProgress of CRVS

Sri LankaSri Lanka

• Well functioning CRVS system in place for over a century with good completeness and coverage

• Backed by a sound legal and regulatory framework which has ensured universality and continuity

• Relies on simple low cost well established systems for collection, transmission and storage of data

Successes

ChallengesQuality of cause of death statistics needs improvement

Over 30% of deaths are due to ill defined causesNearly half of all deaths occur out of hospitals and

hence are certified by lay registrarsRoutine quality audits of data need to be conducted

Multi stakeholder coordination needs further strengtheningTimeliness needs to be improvedVerbal autopsies conducted for out of hospital deaths need

to be strengthened

Measures taken for further improvementComplete assessment carried out in 2009

Recommendations being implemented Module proper COD certification for medical officers

developed and ready to be rolled outMortality coders trained continuouslyBacklog being clearedStakeholder coordination improvedAnalyzing causes of medically certified deaths

separately