AMS hails Health Minister’s address on Specialist shortage

By Sheain Fernandopulle 

The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has commended the Health Minister’s recent parliamentary address, highlighting the critical  shortage of medical specialists in Sri Lanka, calling it an accurate  and timely assessment of a growing crisis.  

The Minister outlined key factors driving the exodus of  specialists, including inadequate transport, challenging working and  living conditions in rural hospitals, and other professional hurdles.  

He stressed the urgent need to retain these highly trained  professionals to safeguard the quality of the nation’s healthcare  system.  

In a statement issued yesterday, the AMS praised the  Minister’s “insightful and candid” speech for raising public and  parliamentary awareness of the issue. However, the association urged the  government to follow words with action, beginning with addressing  salary and allowance disparities between medical specialists and  parallel-grade state officers.  

The AMS called for immediate implementation of appropriate  allowances to reflect the unique demands of the profession, such as  constant availability, frequent disturbance, irregular travel to  hospitals at unsociable hours, heavy extra-duty work, administrative  tasks, teaching, training, research, and continuous professional  development.  

“Compensating specialists fairly will help retain talent  and directly improve the quality of public health services, benefiting  all citizens,” the AMS said.  

Meanwhile, sources revealed that among Sri Lanka’s 70  medical specialties, there is an acute shortage of neurosurgeons,  oncosurgeons, thoracic surgeons, plastic surgeons, and paediatric  surgeons. Of the 310 medical officers eligible to be board-certified  specialists in 2024, only 185 appeared on the annual list, indicating a  significant shortfall in the pipeline.