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Last Updated : 2024-05-21 07:04:00
30 June 2023 08:09 am - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka's only specialist in Pediatric Radiology has left the country, Dr. Ashoka Gunaratne of the Specialist Doctors' Association said.
Addressing the media, he said earlier it was estimated that at least 4,000 specialist doctors would be required for the health sector by 2024 and 2025.
"Currently, we have only 50 percent (2,000). With the government's decision to set the retirement age of specialist doctors at 60, about 250 doctors from the remaining 50 percent will be lost to the sector, bringing the total number of specialist doctors to 1,750. We trained 30 doctors attached to the emergency medicine units and assigned them as specialist doctors, but 20 of them have migrated," he said.
"It was estimated that there would be a total of 289 Anesthesiologists by 2024 and 2025, but only 155 remain this year and 30 of them have also migrated. If the remaining Anesthesiologists retire at age 60, the health sector will lose another 20 Anesthesiologists this year," Dr. Gunaratne said.
He said that it is unfortunate to say that only 100 specialist doctors and anesthesiologists will remain by the end of this year after migrations.
"There was only one specialist in Pediatric Radiology in the country, and he has already migrated. Specialist doctors do not continue with their postgraduate studies as they get the least facilities," he said.
Most specialist doctors used to migrate because of the few facilities they have, such as not having quarters, and because there is no way for their children to be admitted to schools.
Therefore, the government must look at these issues if they want to stop the doctors from migrating, Dr. Gunaratne said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)
Joe Friday, 30 June 2023 08:29 AM
Yes so the very smart Gota told everyone to leave the country and send back dollars, and that's exactly what they are doing.
Dee Friday, 30 June 2023 08:42 AM
Solution would be to stop free university medical education. Use that funds to pay government medical officers better and also possibly attract medical professionals from overseas. This way we will have a much better healthcare system. Most of the present juniors can’t even speak properly, let alone diagnose! (and they will not be able to migrate)
RNA Friday, 30 June 2023 12:31 PM
Do you really think anyone will pay money to get educated in a state university?
Dee Friday, 30 June 2023 10:17 PM
@RNA . The majority thinks that our local university is the best in the world. They put down private education simply because they couldn’t afford it! If free education is stopped, those who can’t afford can keep protesting- the rest can get a life. When a ship is sinking- not everyone survive!
Sara Friday, 30 June 2023 08:48 AM
Most of these doctors are going out of the country as the retirement age was increased. Because of that only old inefficient doctors are hanging around in Colombo and other places So the retirement age should be 60 and government should stop providing 5 year leave without loss of seniority should be abolished. some old doctors are blocking the young doctors coming to Colombo fir their selfishness. It seems these repeated articles about this matter at this time is to influence the decision of this age limit.
Prakash Friday, 30 June 2023 09:02 AM
You guys also don’t want private medical collage, but cry and continue your mafia business
Truth Friday, 30 June 2023 09:12 AM
Radiology is not rocket science. Many other Dr. could have been trained. This is result of GMOA Mafia. We have plenty of Dr.s infact more than what is required. But the GMOA mafia does not allow them to be trained or be specialised till the senior lot leaves.
Somasiri Friday, 30 June 2023 10:14 AM
After benefiting from free education, doctors have a duty to make substantial contributions to society in return. They studied from the taxpayers' money. However, it is important to address concerns regarding personal benefits. One aspect worth noting is that doctors not paying income tax, which is quite a favourable evasion of commitment. I am aware of a particular incident involving a doctor in Kandy who requested three million in cash, without issuing any receipts, for the purpose of conducting a liver transplant. It is alleged that this was an attempt to move the patient's treatment from the hospital to the doctor's private practice. I obtained this information through our involvement in fundraising for the patient.
Doctors are not geniuses Friday, 30 June 2023 10:42 AM
There is nothing special about the specialist doctors , any doctor or even a nurse could be trained within three months to do any so called specialist job. But the doctors union would not allow that as it would expose the work of the specialist doctors as just ordinary work,
Doctors are geniuses Saturday, 01 July 2023 11:23 PM
What is the basis of this statement? Do you know in UK it takes 7 years of training to be a specialist?
Gamini Friday, 30 June 2023 11:06 AM
All this is a result of free education No tax Duty free car benefits Priority school admission of doctors kids
Bala Friday, 30 June 2023 11:17 AM
Doctors think they are it. For me, their only intention is to limit the no.s of doctors passing out so they have a better probability to be in the business. Thus it tells why they oppose private medical colleges. An incident involving a doctor who has shot up to a fame in the media after affiliating with Sanath Jayasuriya, was cheeky to not instruct the authority to refund money mistakenly paid for his consultation. The payment was not needed as he was paid anyways to do an abdominal scan in the scanning room, at a hospital near a famous lake in Colombo. I had paid 20K for the scan and some 4K for consulting him for no purpose. Despite my request, he did not instruct the hospital to return the money.
German Friday, 30 June 2023 11:29 AM
When you stop free education, bright intelligent children of poor families will never be able to enter the universities, right?
Dee Friday, 30 June 2023 10:12 PM
They usually start protesting whenever they get admitted free! Some end up as the head of the union! = Free.
KP Friday, 30 June 2023 01:48 PM
Some seem to think the panacea for doctor shortage are private universities. Yes that’ll solve a small part of the problem but not enough. First, the number of people who can be trained as quality doctors are limited. Also, even doctors who studied abroad and returned to SL are leaving. Why would doctors who study paying a lot of money want to work for a pittance with no return for investment when even the ones who graduated for free are leaving. Even in countries with private universities there are doctor shortages. Anyway it’s only a long term solution for an immediate problem. When there is a hole in the bucket no point in opening more taps. The hole is undervaluing doctors.
UMAS ALI Saturday, 01 July 2023 03:39 AM
PARLIMENTARIANS NOT INTERESTED BECAUSE THEY CAN ALWAYS GO TO SINGAPORE FOR TREATMENT
Thank you very much Saturday, 01 July 2023 08:21 AM
Thank you Government of Sri lanka for providing a free education package from early childhood. You have spent public tax money to serve the world. Despite being bankrupt we continue to provide everything free to our citizens. Good luck and thanks again.
Anon Saturday, 01 July 2023 10:49 AM
I'm not sure why everyone is criticising free education here. Free education is one of the most valuable things Sri Lanka has provided its citizens with. It enables even the poorest to enter university. Yes, it's not without issues (ragging, strikes, student clashes), but those need to be fixed with attitude changes, not by abolishing free education. Also, people don't seem to quite understand the stresses associated with the medical profession. Long shifts, overwork and understaffing, responsibility for others' lives... Again, I'm not saying there aren't any greedy or unscrupulous doctors, but don't blame the entire profession for the mistakes of a few.
Arshcharyaya Saturday, 01 July 2023 01:34 PM
Ship sinks and dive to escape when Captainship and responsible partners have their one foot abroad. Top deck have many options but won't survive even there.
M Fernando Saturday, 01 July 2023 03:55 PM
Since President is an expert on every subject under the sun, he can train new Radiologists. No problem. And he can do it in any language.
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