The shortage of radiographers and other allied health professionals is affecting the effective use of advanced medical equipment introduced to State hospitals, the President of the Government Radiological Technologists’ Association Chanaka Dharmawickrama said.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on 2 August, Dharmawickrama said that there are around 800 vacancies for radiographers in the country, while hospitals are continuing to function with an approved cadre that has not been updated since 2012. He said that the Government has introduced advanced medical equipment, including computed tomography scanners, cath lab equipment, magnetic resonance imaging scanners, digital subtraction angiography units, theatre c-arm machines used for diagnostic procedures, and linear accelerator machines used in cancer treatment, through projects supported by the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Dharmawickrama said that some of these machines had been provided for as new installations, while others were intended to replace existing equipment. However, hospitals did not have adequate numbers of trained personnel, particularly radiographers, to operate the new technology, he claimed. He said that there is a shortage of around 30 per cent of the required allied health staff in the country. “Although the cadre has not been updated since 2012, the authorities have also not taken steps to fill the existing vacancies,” he said. Dharmawickrama urged the Health Ministry to take immediate measures to recruit radiography degree holders who would qualify this year (2026) from the Universities of Peradeniya and Colombo, and the General John Kotelawala Defence University. He stressed that more allied health science degree holders should be recruited to reduce the workload faced by the existing staff and ensure that patients receive timely services while allowing hospitals to make maximum use of modern medical technology.

Several attempts to contact the Deputy Health Minister, Dr Hansaka Wijemuni for comment on the issue proved futile.