Surgeries at Udugama Hospital come to a standstill

Colombo, May 30 (Daily Mirror) - Medical services at the Base Hospital in Udugama have been severely disrupted following the resignation of the hospital’s only anesthetist, sources said. 

As a result, several surgeries have been postponed, while others have been suspended altogether.

The hospital, which has performed over 1,000 surgeries in the past five months has been unable to continue its usual surgical schedule since May 29. 

Patients requiring surgical procedures are now being referred to the Galle National Hospital placing additional pressure on that facility.

Further, the resignation has also had a ripple effect beyond Udugama. The same anesthetist was recently selected to serve at the Base Hospital in Dambadeniya, which is now also without an anesthetist.

Meanwhile, according to health officials, nearly 15 specialist doctors have left the country over the past five months. 

Among them are a consultant virologist from Apeksha Hospital, a histopathologist from Mahiyanganaya, an acting eye surgeon from Ratnapura, three acting paediatricians, a cardiologist from Nawalapitiya, a plastic surgeon from Kandy, and four anesthetists.