9 September 2023 12:00 am Views - 102
By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera
Shortage of medical professionals and health care workers was not an issue faced only by Sri Lanka, but a global phenomenon faced by the whole world, Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said yesterday.
Speaking during the debate on the no-confidence motion on Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, he said according to a report issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), there would be a global shortage of 12.9 million medical professionals by 2035.
He said most countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, Australia and the UAE had faced a shortage of medical professionals.
The Minister said it was a normal practice for medical specialists to find employment in such countries and that Sri Lanka as a developing country had no way to stop that.
“We cannot prevent them from leaving the country. Are we to ban the passports? We cannot stop them leaving the country in terms of human rights. Not only doctors, but pilots and other professionals also leave the country to find greener pastures,” he said.
De Silva said neither the Minister nor the government could do anything about it and said that a system should be in place to address the issue.