Health service in NCP hospitals hampered by dearth of specialists

By Dayaratne Embogama   

Governor of the North Central Province Maheepala Herath  said the hospitals under the Provincial Council were facing a severe  shortage of medical specialists.   

Commenting on prevailing vacancies in staff and the  shortage of drugs in hospitals in the province, he told the media that  several base hospitals had been left without any specialist doctor. 

“Kahatagasdigiliya Base Hospital should have two  specialist doctors, but there is none while Medawachchiya and  Kahatagasdigiliya Base Hospitals each has one specialist doctor. However,  any shortage of drugs has not been reported from hospitals under the  Provincial Council. The usual practice is that the hospital authorities  would inform me of a shortage of drugs, if any, but I have not heard from  them about any such.” The Governor further said.   

Meanwhile, Director of Health Services, North Central  Province Dr. Palitha Bandara said hospitals in the North Central  Province were facing a shortage of 30 pharmacists and a shortage of more  than 50 nursing officers. He denied any severe shortage of drugs.   

However, the Director of Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital Dr.  Dulan Samaraweera said his hospital was not facing a shortage of drugs or staff vacancies.            

• Kahatagasdigiliya Base Hospital should have two  specialist doctors, but there is none while Medawachchiya and  Kahatagasdigiliya Base Hospitals each has one specialist doctor