• A Cabinet note will be submitted to inform the Cabinet about this proposal

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

In a bid to address the brain drain affecting the health sector, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has announced that specialists will be given the opportunity to extend their contracts by an additional two years after their retirement age. 

 
The Health Minister further revealed that a Cabinet note will be submitted to inform the Cabinet about this proposal. While the retirement age for the entire public service stands at 60 years, the extension of retirement age for doctors to 63 years was previously implemented due to the challenges faced by the health sector and the brain drain phenomenon.  

“By extending specialists’ contracts for an additional two years on a contractual basis, the government aims to mitigate the impact of brain drain and ensure the availability of specialized medical professionals in the country’s healthcare system,” he added.