Abstract

Introduction: Allied health professionals are critical to the delivery of healthcare in Sri Lanka. Despite their growing importance, limited data exist on the cost of training these professionals—information essential for effective workforce and financial planning. Training is primarily conducted through institutions overseen by the Education, Training, and Research (ETR) Unit of the Ministry of Health.

Objective: To estimate the average cost incurred by the Ministry of Health to train one allied health sciences professional, using data from selected training schools under the ETR Unit.

Methods: A cross-sectional costing study was conducted using a standardized tool developed by the ETR Unit. Retrospective data were collected for the 2024 financial year across ten training programs. The analysis adopted a provider perspective, applying a bottom-up costing approach focused on recurrent expenditures, including personnel salaries, materials, utilities, and student allowances. Data were verified for completeness and accuracy.

Results: The highest per-student training cost was for the Prosthetics and Orthotics program (LKR 4.2 million / USD 14,012.86), while the lowest was for the Radiography program (LKR 998,931.43 / USD 3,329.77). Costs dropped significantly when student allowances were excluded. Key cost drivers included training duration and material expenditures.

Conclusion: Substantial variation exists in training costs across allied health disciplines. These findings provide evidence for policymakers to optimize resource allocation, enhance cost-efficiency, and support sustainable planning for allied health education in Sri Lanka.