Global shortage of medical professionals: Minister

• According to WHO, there will be a shortage of 12.9 Mn medical professionals by 2035

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.