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Patients inconvenienced as specialist abruptly leaves Kahawatta Hospital

9 September 2023 04:28 pm - 21     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Patients are facing a significant setback in their healthcare as the ophthalmologist at the Kahawatta Hospital in Ratnapura has suddenly left the country, it is reported.

However, the Daily Mirror learns that the specialist has left the country for a medical training session with the permission of the Health Ministry.

Nonetheless, the departure has left a large number of patients in a state of helplessness, desperately seeking alternatives for their eye treatments.

The Kahawatta Hospital has been a vital healthcare provider for the communities in the Kahawatta, Godakawela, Opanayake, Pelmadulla, Balangoda and Weligepola Divisional Secretariats areas.

Offering eye clinics six days a week, the hospital has been able to cater to the needs of a considerable patient population. The hospital conducts an average of 150 to 200 eye surgeries daily. (Sheain Fernandopulle)


  Comments - 21

  • European Saturday, 09 September 2023 05:43 PM

    It seems the medical staff in Sri Lanka never heard of the oath of Hippocrates.

    Shan Saturday, 09 September 2023 10:36 PM

    People here are not grateful for the services rendered by medical professionals for a very mean salary in the govt sector. People treat the digits as machines. They work day and night without sleep and sacrificing their family life. Even after all this people find fault than value their services. They work with minimum facilities provided by the govt. many times they use theirs own money to buy instruments for surgery. A common man in Stilanka can never understand or appreciate the services. Here in this case a clear evidence that he has gone on leave. For medical education What do you think of medical professionals You know what is in Hippocrates oath. You be with your family and enjoy while criticizing the medical professional working day and night. Now you may come with an another ridiculous argument of free e dictation. Don’t you all get free education. So you people wasted public money without utilizing free education. Doctors uses tha and repay that by taxes

    Bimal Saturday, 09 September 2023 05:59 PM

    Speaks volumes about their ethical and moral principles.

    Chryshan Saturday, 09 September 2023 06:51 PM

    We all had doubts whether doctors were only for money and they cleared our doubt. How irresponsible these educated idiots are after studying free from poor citizens of this country. These doctors are looting even from beggers on the road. Coursed lot. Its time govt take legal action against all.

    Mahila Sunday, 10 September 2023 04:33 AM

    True!!! Fully agree, Public money misused!!!?? One possible reason Bankruptcy!!!??? All who used FEE EDUCATION, including those who became, Doctors, Engineers, Technocrats, Scientists, Administrators for at least 5 years compulsory service to government in allocated areas! Not forgetting those who used FREE education and achieved nothing, those who didn't pass GCE O/L 6 passes with (compulsory) Mathematics

    Private practice and doctor working even part time private a problem Sunday, 10 September 2023 07:55 AM

    Private doctors are the problem. Doctors 100% for government service are at least doing something worthwhile, it is the doctors who do consult on the side, private practice that are ruining this country.

    Siva Saturday, 09 September 2023 11:48 PM

    Everyone studied free not only doctors.Doctors utilized maximum while others coudnt make it. They migrate because they have better value there. Doctors study postgraduate in their own money thats why they go out.

    G M O Abeysingha Sunday, 10 September 2023 03:44 AM

    This is routine to go abroad for foreign training. It is not like staying back after completion which is wrong. There are no 150-200 eye surgery daily at kahawatta. Not even in eye hospital colombo.

    ajith Sunday, 10 September 2023 07:15 AM

    Fortunately, no politician will be affected since they get their treatments in Singapore.

    Only poor suffer, rich have private hospitals Sunday, 10 September 2023 03:39 PM

    It is only the poor who suffer. Not just politician but anyone with money will use big Colombo private hospitals like Apollo that fly in Indian specialists as needed.

    Jude Sunday, 10 September 2023 08:16 AM

    People do you know that the GMOA don't take the Hippocratic Oath, yeah that's why they inconvenience the patient at Will.

    Nuwan Sunday, 10 September 2023 10:22 AM

    It could be a doctor, engineer, accountant or a driver or a cleaner, if that person goes absent without notice and without handing over his/her duties to someone else, that is a serious ethical issue. There is no justification for such actions. Such professionals should not be employed by anybody. Is that what has happened? Or has the ministry ignored the resignation of the doctor and failed to provide a replacement?

    He is free to follow what is good for him Sunday, 10 September 2023 03:37 PM

    If approved by management, any person can go where they want on leave, whether it be doctor, engineer, accountant or a driver or a cleaner. Why you propose ministry is dumb suggesting doctor resigned and ministry ignored it?

    EnEff Sunday, 10 September 2023 10:54 AM

    Seems all are commenting with bias; some doctors may be doing the wrong thing; in this case the doctor has left for training with ministry approval. Not that he has put a jump. Did n't the ministry know when they approved the training, that he has to leave the country? that the hospital needs an eye surgeon? Who is responsible for the people's plight here? Doctor who left or the ministry that took no action to provide a replacement?

    Unbiased Sunday, 10 September 2023 11:26 AM

    Shan! I fully agree with your comments.

    ANNECUNT Sunday, 10 September 2023 12:10 PM

    FIRST WE NEED TO SORT OUT OUR OWN POLITICIANS , THIS IS WHY DOCTORS ARE LEAVING

    Unless revolution to overthrow constiutation how can it happen Sunday, 10 September 2023 03:36 PM

    How you suggest for that?

    Grace Sunday, 10 September 2023 03:45 PM

    Who cares about government hospitals doctors leaving the country. For well off people and politicians, there are standard hospitals with State of the Art facilities in Singapore.

    Dr. Tharaka Sunday, 10 September 2023 07:34 PM

    @Shan: You are 100% correct. The way people underestimate doctors would result in more migration in the future. As doctors we know we work not only for those 4 hours of extra duty payment, but sacrifice family life and family also has to suffer because of our duties... i can remember my registrar period for a couple of years at a stretch almost every day as well as SHO period where I had to keep the phone ready all the time on the bed whenever i went to sleep knowing the sleep may be restricted to 1 or 2 hrs, perhaps not that much even and disturbing the baby's sleep most of the time. These sensitive matters are not made public usually. People are very clever in accusing and giving pandit talks against us. I think it s not only the governments and politicians that encouraged doctors to leave the country, it is also mostly due to ungrateful people in the society that migration is happening.

    NightOwl Monday, 11 September 2023 01:12 PM

    Dr. Tharaka

    KP Tuesday, 12 September 2023 11:29 AM

    @Shan. Exactly true. Also, not so long ago, some in these comments were challenging doctors to leave if they can, claiming the doctors were bluffing about leaving, and no country will take them. Now when they leave they are accusing doctors of unethical behavior. Anyway, in this case, the doctor has left for compulsory foreign training, after a three year delay, and after informing the health ministry nine months in advance.


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