Health Ministry’s claims on return of migrated doctors debunked

21 March 2024 08:42 am - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, March 21 (Daily Mirror) - Running counter to the statement by the Health Ministry regarding the return of migrated doctors to Sri Lanka, recent statistics paint a different picture, revealing only a meagre five specialists have returned to the country this year.

The assertion initially made by Deputy Director General (Medical Services) Dr. G. Wijesuriya failed to produce the statistics and thus met with skepticism, especially considering the stark reality depicted by the data.

Dr. Wijesuriya, who found himself in hot water over the statement, claimed a reversal in the trend of doctors, particularly those pursuing postgraduate training abroad, choosing not to return to Sri Lanka. “Although it’s not in alarming numbers, the migrated doctors have started to return to the country,”

However, the actual figures present a stark contrast. Among the handful of specialists who have returned include a Gynaecologist (VOG), Surgeon, Anaesthetist, Pediatrician, and Ophthalmologist, indicating a minor shift rather than a substantial return.

Commenting on the situation, President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA). Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama opined that returning five specialists cannot be considered as a positive improvement given the staggering number of doctors who migrated last year.

As per the statistics, a total of close to 450 specialists have migrated since the latter part of 2022 with another 785 specialists set to go overseas for training.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ashoka Gunaratne, the media spokesman for the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS), raised concerns over the escalating migration of medical professionals, asserting that they had not noticed such a trend of specialists returning to the country.

He also charged that the health Ministry cannot make such blank statements over such a critical matter without producing clear-cut figures.

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Comments - 21

Lakshman maddumahewa Thursday, 21 March 2024 08:56 AM

May be true the original statement. UK restricted health workers visa only limited to principal holder and not allowed to his dependents including spouse and children. In Australia thought similar way.

KP Thursday, 21 March 2024 11:57 AM

You are talking about caregivers. Skilled migrants can bring their family.

Cent to count Thursday, 21 March 2024 09:03 AM

Every thing is a fair tale even our lives living here!! Thank you banana Republic

Wera Thursday, 21 March 2024 09:36 AM

Oh yeah! Just how many countries do you think you can waltz into and get hired as a doctor? Very few. First comes the medical board exam. To do that you need to enroll in classes. Assuming you have money to support your self until you pass the exam. Then comes the job hunt. When you finally begin working as a doctor there comes the annual time to pay your taxes! guess what the rates are? Hire than what you were asked to pay in the Sri Lanka. Most often. No wriggle room to rake it in tax free from on channeling services eh?

Citizen Thursday, 21 March 2024 02:21 PM

Given all the hardships and exams, still it's worthier than living in a corrupted country with uneducated majority.

Janitha Thursday, 21 March 2024 02:23 PM

Hate to break it to you ! most, 90% migrated Doctors are not from Lower middle class families as you assume ! living out of lousy government paycheck. they (we) have more than sufficient cash to migrate as well as to undertake exams as well as to support Our selves

ruwan Thursday, 21 March 2024 09:48 AM

those who went for specialised training are coming as usual.. those who migrated for jobs hardly come. that's the trend.

Sri Thursday, 21 March 2024 10:23 AM

The money that they make in Sri Lankan will make them come back. Are they paying tax on the private practice.

KP Thursday, 21 March 2024 12:09 PM

Taxes on private practice will be passed in to the patient as in any business.

Sokrates Thursday, 21 March 2024 10:24 AM

All these lies are part of a perfidious election campaign by the ruling party and Ranil. The people are led to believe that everything will turn out well. Sri Lanka has a doctor density of 1.2 per 1000 inhabitants, while Cuba has 8. Since India is even worse than Sri Lanka at 0.8, doctors should be recruited from Cuba, especially since their training is among the best in the world, and not at the lowest level like Sri Lanka.

Chronic illness patient Thursday, 21 March 2024 10:44 AM

Allow Sri Lankan qualified doctors with foreign citizenship without dual nationality to return. These foreign citizenship doctors need not necessarily join the government service but can work privately.

European Thursday, 21 March 2024 12:01 PM

I don't think they will start or work in private clinics and only serve rich people privately, because in developed countries doctors pledge the oath of Hippocrates.

A.S.S. Lickers Thursday, 21 March 2024 10:54 AM

true. Such a joke. They paint a picture in support to the government that things are beautiful now. What a shame!

KP Thursday, 21 March 2024 12:07 PM

@ Wera Specialists don’t have to sit for any exams. They have all been trained and already worked in foreign countries and have registration there. Finding jobs is easy because globally there has always been a demand for healthcare workers. This is not the first time doctors have migrated. How do you think so many already migrated? Can understand your wishful thinking trying to belittle doctors worth in the international labor market, but doctors know the reality.

Maheepala Thursday, 21 March 2024 12:28 PM

Don’t send them on government expense, otherwise using public funds. Let them do overseas post graduate work on their own

KP Friday, 22 March 2024 03:29 AM

They are doing overseas postgraduate training on their own. In fact they get paid by the foreign hospitals. If they come back, they bring foreign exchange.

Dinesh Withanage Thursday, 21 March 2024 12:33 PM

while ordinary citizens are braving all the hardship and not opting to migrate, what has happened to the doctor community? They have a higher living standard whatever it is against the ordinary people but still opt to migrate. This is shameful and act of betrayal to their mother land.

Shivantha Fernandopulle Thursday, 21 March 2024 01:02 PM

The Ministry statement is true in the case for orthopaedic surgeons. Most have returned to Sri Lanka after foreign training.

My government Thursday, 21 March 2024 02:36 PM

This is also like the dollar going down statements. No substantial reasoning for anything but an impromptu hunch and statements are made. I sincerely hope the dollar will go down with the cost of living and the doctor's charges with it. But.....Who are we to believe? Poor Us

Long term illness Thursday, 21 March 2024 03:19 PM

@ European - there are some very keen to do Charity work. They have already earned millions , have multiple houses, drive very expensive cars etc. They are not bothered about earning money. If allowed they will serve the poor especially in the peripheral areas. They will bring enough dollars to our country. Rich people in SL will always seek well known provincial hospital docs.

In Demand In Several Countries Thursday, 21 March 2024 10:15 PM

WELL SAID KP

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Health Ministry’s claims on return of migrated doctors debunked

Comments - 21

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