Health Ministry intervenes to settle Kalutara hospital dispute

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

Plans to set up professorial units for the University of Moratuwa’s Faculty of Medicine at the Teaching Hospital Kalutara are now back on track after a week of tensions between hospital consultants and university officials, health sources said.   
The dispute began over the sudden reallocation of hospital resources to the university side, which consultants said affected patient care and Ministry of Health services.   
Matters escalated when there was an attempt to close the hospital’s oldest paediatric consultant post to make room for more beds in the new professorial unit, a move strongly opposed by hospital staff.   To resolve the issue, senior officials from the Ministry of Health met with all parties at the hospital last Saturday.   
They agreed to keep the existing paediatric post and allow a new consultant to apply once the current consultant retires.   
The meeting also focused on the lack of staff to properly start the professorial units.   
Hospital consultants stressed that while they support medical education, it should not disrupt the hospital’s smooth functioning.   
They also highlighted the need to upgrade the hospital’s facilities to better serve patients and train students.