finger pointed at seniors holding onto lucrative posts

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) Chief Dr. Rukshan Bellana yesterday (25) said that doctors including specialists, leaving the country couldn’t be entirely blamed on the developing economic-political-social crisis.Dr. Bellana said that though the continuing economic crisis and political instability being push factors couldn’t be denied, the decision- makers should take remedial measures, having examined all issues at hand. It would be a grave mistake on the part of the health administration to blame it all on the political crisis, Dr. Bellana warned.

The trade unionist currently functions as Acting Deputy Director, National Hospital.Responding to The Island queries, the GMOF President asserted that many relatively young specialists opted to leave the country as they were deprived of an opportunity to serve major hospitals.

The seniors, including those who have been granted the opportunity to serve till 63 years of age, served at major hospitals, Dr. Bellana said. The bottom line is that those who served major hospitals served the lucrative private hospital network, Dr. Bellana said.

Unfortunately, those at the helm at political and administrative level have so far conveniently failed to examine the increase in the number of doctors, including specialists, leaving the country, the trade unionist said. Some have deliberately misled the public, alleging doctors, including specialists, migrated due to increase in taxes, Dr. Bellana said, urging the government to study the impact of the 2020 decision to extend the retirement of all public servants to 65, bring it back to 60 two years later and then create a special category for medical specialists for them to continue till 63 years of age.

DR. Bellana insisted that doctors migrated even in the ’80s. The current situation couldn’t be examined without taking into consideration the opening up of so many vacancies, not only for doctors, including specialists but nurses, para-medics and caregivers at various levels in the ever expanding global private hospital networks.

Instead of warning against doctors, including specialists, seeking employment overseas, the government should introduce far reaching changes to regulate appointments.

GMOA spokesperson Dr. Chamila Wijesinghe said that grievances of the medical fraternity should be addressed. Regardless of the developing crisis, the vast majority of doctors, including specialists, remained committed to serve the country, Dr. Wijesinghe said, but the government under any circumstances couldn’t ignore how the economic crisis and the failure on the part of the government to restore public confidence in financial stability influenced many professionals to leave the country.

Dr. Wijesinghe stressed that even not so old specialists were among those who left the country over the past year.

Asked whether the GMOA expected improvement in the situation, Dr. Wijesinghe said that of approximately 20,000 doctors and 2,600 specialists here, over 90 percent represent the GMOA. “Let those interested in working abroad to leave the country. In line with current arrangements, each will have to send USD 500 to Sri Lanka,” Dr. Wijesinghe said.