14 September 2023 07:04 pm Views - 1191
In a bid to address the brain drain affecting the health sector, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has announced that specialists will be given the opportunity to extend their contracts by an additional two years after their retirement at 63.
Highlighting the impact of the brain drain in the health sector, Rambukwella emphasized that the extension of contracts will allow specialists to continue serving according to their wishes in addition to the existing retirement age of 63 years for doctors.
The Health Minister further revealed that a note will be submitted to inform the Cabinet on this proposal. While the retirement age for the entire public service stands at 60 years, the extension of the retirement age for doctors to 63 years was previously implemented due to the challenges faced by the health sector and the brain drain phenomenon.
“By extending specialists' contracts for an additional two years on a contractual basis, the government aims to mitigate the impact of brain drain and ensure the availability of specialized medical professionals in the country's healthcare system,” he added.