Kanthale hospital faces surgical crisis amid consultant shortage

Base Hospital Kanthale has issued an urgent plea to the Ministry of Health for the immediate replacement of its Consultant Surgeon, whose recent absence has disrupted critical surgical services and forced the hospital to divert emergency cases to other facilities.

In a letter addressed to the Deputy Director General of Medical Services, Dr. P.N. Edirisinghe, Medical Superintendent of Base Hospital Kanthale, highlighted the pressing need for a replacement surgeon. 

According to the letter, the hospital’s current Consultant Surgeon has been on sick leave for two consecutive days without submitting a required medical opinion. 

This situation has severely affected the hospital’s ability to manage surgical cases, leading to the transfer of critical patients to the District General Hospital in Trincomalee.

Furthermore, while the Ministry has assigned an Acting Consultant General Surgeon, Dr. Sivamayuran, as a temporary measure, the Medical Superintendent stressed that this is only a provisional solution. 

The permanent Consultant Surgeon allocated to the hospital has yet to report for duty, leaving a gap in the hospital’s ability to provide essential medical services as it's a one-man station.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has yet to respond to the request.