• AMS claims 800-plus vacancies fueled by inadequate income, lack of facilities including transport package, insufficient support, psychological difficulties 

The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) claimed that the shortage of medical specialists in the country is now higher than 800. 

Seven specialists attached to several leading hospitals, according to the AMS, had left the country during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays. Speaking to The Daily Morning, a senior member of the AMS claimed that medical specialists attached to the District General Hospitals of Hambantota, Embilipitiya, Monaragala, and Nuwara-Eliya and the Base Hospitals of Bibile, Medirigiriya and Mahiyanganaya had migrated during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays. There have been anaesthetists, physicians, and obstetricians and gynaecologists among the said seven specialists.

The AMS member further claimed that there should be about 2,500 medical specialists in the country as per current circumstances, but that there are only about 1,700 specialists. He attributed the main reasons for specialists leaving the country for foreign jobs to be the insufficient income, the lack of facilities, and psychological difficulties that they have had to endure due to having to work long distances away from their families. 

“Various issues are there with regard to specialists' welfare which are yet to be addressed. The Government's failure to provide them with a transport allowance is one of the main issues. Certain specialists have to travel hundreds of kilometres between their houses and the serving hospitals. In accordance with the Public Administration Circular 22/99 approved in 1999 and updated in 2010, senior officials in all sectors of the public service are entitled for an official transport allowance, most including a suitable vehicle and also a driver. The relevant regulations state that Grade One Government officers are eligible for this official transport package. In that context, the specialists are clearly eligible for this allowance, but they are not provided with it. There are several other issues that should be addressed. You can’t keep anybody in the country against their will. All they ask is for reasonable remuneration and benefits, good living quarters, and facilities for children’s education. If they can give a 70% pay hike to the Central Bank employees, why can’t they meet the specialists’ demands at least halfway,” he explained.

Minister of Health, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana was not available for comment.

Sri Lanka has faced a significant shortage of medical specialists in the past few years, leading to increased pressure on the healthcare system. This shortage has been influenced by several factors, including the changes made to the public servants' retiring age, the migration of healthcare professionals for better opportunities abroad, insufficient training programmes to meet growing demands, and resource related constraints within the health sector.