Health Ministry says ’no’ to foreign medical specialists

18 August 2023 07:25 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 28 Bookmark

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The Health Ministry dismissed the reports suggesting that they are considering bringing in specialist doctors from overseas to address the current acute shortage of medical specialists.

DDG (Medical Services) Dr. G. Wijesuriya told the media that such discussions have not taken place as it is not a feasible solution.

He also elaborated on several key steps taken to address the dearth of medical specialists.

“Firstly, the retirement age for specialists has been extended from 60 to 63, and retired specialists are now allowed to work on a contract basis at hospitals until a replacement specialist is appointed.,” he elucidated.

“In addition, the Ministry has decided to prioritize the training of more doctors to become specialists. However, this process is expected to take at least five years, meaning that the shortage of medical specialists will persist till then, Dr. Wijesuriya added.

Comments - 28

Kamal Friday, 18 August 2023 07:53 PM

Invite Sri Lankan trained specialists working in abroad to come for shorter periods ( 1 to 6 months)

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Fahim Knight Friday, 18 August 2023 08:16 PM

It's important for them to assume responsibility, and if the ongoing loss of lives persists, people might not show much mercy. ---

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Jayantha Friday, 18 August 2023 08:56 PM

What a fool. He expects people to experience the shortage for next 5 years. First remove this joker before he makes another harsh situation like fuel shortages caused by inexperienced morningpila and officers. RW should appoint someonr with a brain here who can look in to short term solution as well as long term solution.

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Connoisseur Friday, 18 August 2023 09:23 PM

It will be all Indian Pakistan Ban specialist doctors with various rogue degrees coming as specialists., better go to your ayurvedic doctors, I beg their pardon.

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Nirma Friday, 18 August 2023 09:33 PM

Government must work out a short term plan and long term plan. This DDG does not understand the problem. Temporaryly getting qualified specialist will address the issues. Trying to manage with exciting specialist is not going to work.

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Patients Friday, 18 August 2023 10:39 PM

It will be us paying for foreign doctors' salaries and other perks in dollars. On a different note, can someone please do something about the "channelling fees" by doctors/hospitals. It seems like 5,000 is the minimum charge for consultation only. Hospitalisation in a private hospital is only a dream!! These doctors/hospitals cater only to the rich and affluent but unfortunately now there are only a handful of the rich and affluent in the country. It is high time someone looked into these exorbitant amounts that are being charged!

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ajith Friday, 18 August 2023 11:16 PM

Ask help from european countries. I am sure lots of doctors from those countries will volunteer (free of charge) to work for the poor masses of Sri Lanka.

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Sensible thinking Friday, 18 August 2023 11:46 PM

The medical fraternity of SL has to learn a lot from seeing other countries such as UK and Australia. More than half of the medical workforce in this country are overseas doctors who are qualified elsewhere and had higher training in UK or Australia. They are struggling to get their numbers right. Only in SL you will see some in their eighties still working when they are partially demented. Wake up guys....you will not train enough people for next 2-3 decades and saying NO to overseas specialist is slowly digging your own grave for selfishness. God save SL.

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Paralised Paradise Saturday, 19 August 2023 02:05 AM

Much better if the ministry can open a branch of the Mount Mary at Port City so that all highly qualified medical doctors can provide highest quality service to ordinary people as well as all politicians. When people pay in LKR it will save foreign currency, no airfares.

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Sampath Gamvasam Saturday, 19 August 2023 02:26 AM

Why not. The mentality of locals need to do everything do not work. Every developed country has foreign professionals working in every industry. If we want to develop our country we need to bring foreign workers. These unions and lazy staff won't help to develop our country.

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Ram Saturday, 19 August 2023 02:30 AM

Local Specialists are moving out and AMA opposed to foreign Specialists coming here. What do they say about the few foreign Docs working in private Hospitals. Until Corruption is arrested and the robbed money brought back our specialist who left will not want to return.

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Ram Saturday, 19 August 2023 02:32 AM

Many specialists left when income tax was imposed on all. We are prepared to pay our share of income tax if the government take steps to get the money robbed from us by politicians

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Robin Banks Saturday, 19 August 2023 04:20 AM

There is only one solution to the disaster facing the country in every facet and that is to get rid of this corrupt self-serving illegitimate government.

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Dr. Pavithra Fernando Saturday, 19 August 2023 04:25 AM

We need to start employing more Sri Lankan doctors with Russian qualifications. Although they may not be able to tell the difference between a kidney and a heart, this may be the only solution and beggars can't be choosers.

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Keheliya Rambuwella Saturday, 19 August 2023 04:47 AM

Health ministry says "no" to health and wellbeing of the citizens and whoever need treatment can go overseas.

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Dingiri Banda Saturday, 19 August 2023 06:01 AM

Very simple.

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Nuwan Saturday, 19 August 2023 06:49 AM

Some doctors are doing telehealth from UK already.

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DW Saturday, 19 August 2023 08:11 AM

You mean doctors from Bangladesh or Africa? Why would doctors from well developed countries like the US, Germany or the UK would want to work in this bankrupt country?? Our government is in a dream world.

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Lost Lankan Saturday, 19 August 2023 08:33 AM

Definitely not feasible as this will impact private practises by doctors locally . In addition Health Ministry want to see the death of entire children to make a decision on feasibility.

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Gunadasa Saturday, 19 August 2023 09:20 AM

Short term solution is to extend the retiring age of specialist to 68 years. As a long term solution allow private medical schools to operate in Sri Lanka so that more doctors are produced knowing part of them will leave the country.

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Patriotic Citizen Saturday, 19 August 2023 10:18 AM

There is such a disastrous situation in the country in the Health Sector. The main cause is the taxation which made Specialists and other Doctors to leave the country. Professionals in the Education and Engineering Sectors too have left in groves. The Main Actor in this whole scenario is President Ranil Wickremasinghe. He has not commented on this issue and appears to be unconcerned giving the impression to the country that he has orchestred this with some personal Agenda.

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People are rich in bar and beauty parlour, but cheap in hospital Saturday, 19 August 2023 10:54 AM

People pay foolish beauty salon and unhealthy food/ bar without much worry, yet they are asking more educated, dedicated specialists, doctors to be cheap and charge less. What is this hypocrisy?

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Gamini Wijesuriya Saturday, 19 August 2023 11:12 AM

There are many applications for Specialist Registration under section 39(B)(IV) by Sri Lankan Doctors, living and working as Consultants abroad, mainly in UK. They have qualified overseas, mostly in reputed and well recognized Universities. The Sri Lankan Medical Council is sitting on the applications, for no apparent reason, without action since 2019, despite collecting the application fees. Why not process these applications. Some of them may still be willing to return and work in Sri Lanka?

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Mohan Saturday, 19 August 2023 12:22 PM

If they bring in foreign specialists, they will have to pay hefty sums. That would be unbearable to the already cash strapped treasury and would further drain foreign exchange. So, it is understandable.

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Karalasingam Sivalingam Saturday, 19 August 2023 12:42 PM

Health sector is a vital area, immediate recruitment of specialist required to maintain an efficient service to the patients. Public and patients are in jeopardy . This is not an area that could wait for five years to fill the gap of shortfalls. What is the guarantee that the remaining specialists too would not migrate?

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Tissa Fernando Saturday, 19 August 2023 05:31 PM

First cheap low quality Indian medicines and then unemployed Indian Doctors from boutique medical schools then it will be nurses and health workers.

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Karalasingam Sivalingam Saturday, 19 August 2023 08:52 PM

Introduce merit for intake of medical faculity students. Srimavo Bandaranayake's Higher Education Committee, chaired by late Hon. Peter Kunuma recommended 30% on Merit basis and 70% on proportional system . If this method is followed, and number of intakes doubled, the dearth of specialist could be solved. Necessary funds should be allocated by the national budget.

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Buddhist Saturday, 19 August 2023 11:15 PM

Maybe its time to replace the Health Minister with a foreign official. The present Health Minister is the worst we have ever had.

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