Caucus urges special payment system to retain doctors

26 June 2024 10:31 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8

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Colombo, June 26 - The Caucus of Medical Parliamentarians Sri Lanka recently proposed a specialized payment system to mitigate losses incurred from doctors leaving the country.

The caucus underscored that current policies contribute to difficulties faced by medical professionals, especially concerning transfers and incentives for those working in remote areas.

The meeting, convened in Parliament recently, saw participation from key stakeholders including the Government Medical Officers' Association, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, and the Director General of the Department of Health Services.

Central to the discussions was an appraisal of Sri Lanka's pharmaceutical supply chain and the impact of health worker transfer policies.

According to the Government Medical Officers' Association, recent surveys across hospitals indicate a noticeable reduction in drug shortages compared to previous periods. However, concerns were raised about persistent deficits in some facilities, primarily attributed to inadequate storage, distribution and transport infrastructure.

The caucus deliberated extensively on the challenges posed by current transfer policies, which reportedly deter doctors from returning to Sri Lanka after pursuing further training abroad. Consequently, hospitals often face shortages of specialized medical professionals, forcing existing staff into extended working hours.

Recognizing these issues, the caucus proposed the implementation of additional allowances for doctors stationed in remote districts, aiming to alleviate the strain on medical personnel and improve healthcare delivery nationwide.

Comments - 8

Yohan Wednesday, 26 June 2024 11:16 PM

Give doctors residing in rural areas better quarters with good facilities and better transport allowance. Also give them 10 to 20 percent extra salary than those who works in major towns. Try to keep doctors from same district within that district itself as this will benefits those with families. This way they will prefer to stay a longer period of time. Also give opportunity for more and more new comers so that those leaving will not be a problem. Also encourage private sectors to build more hospitals and private medical faculties. This way the burden for the government will get reduced. Europe is becoming less migration friendly so we may use this opportunity to attract foreign students and also potential investors where latter given citizenship with lower requirements than other nations.

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A long standing patient Thursday, 27 June 2024 03:20 AM

Allow doctors who graduated and worked in Sri Lanka before, now with foreign citizenship to come back and work on their own or in the private sector. No need to obtain dual nationality.

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Amila Perera Thursday, 27 June 2024 03:46 AM

No need to give them additional allowance

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Hemantha Thursday, 27 June 2024 06:07 AM

Medical students who came to universities through district quota should be asked to work in the same districts.

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Ram Thursday, 27 June 2024 06:22 AM

Working in difficult areas all public servants must be given incentives. Doctors are a set of public servant. There are others too who work as hard as the Doctors. To prevent them from leaving they must be bonded for a period to work in Sri Lanka. Their passports must have the condition that they are bonded and must have special permission to go overseas. There are ways to arrest these situations.

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Sobers Thursday, 27 June 2024 06:25 AM

Medical consultants and Private Practice Doctors are making mega money. One of the biggest tax defaulters. Even some consultants return from overseas because they make better money in Srilanka. As for the normal Doctors increase the intake. " Supply should be more" They don't deserve more since they are paid well. Private Practice makes them more money.

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Suruppa Daya Thursday, 27 June 2024 07:33 AM

Why only Doctors? How about the other professionals who are leaving the country. Atleast the doctors have the option of "Private Practice"

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Sokrates Thursday, 27 June 2024 09:03 AM

The entire health care system must be changed. Free health care has been failing in the UK for a long time. In Sri Lanka, the situation is even worse than in the UK. The free health care system was once a good idea but has long since become obsolete. Compulsory health insurance would be a solution, into which everyone has to pay according to their income.

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