The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) urged all Presidential candidates to develop a comprehensive health policy aimed at upgrading Sri Lanka's healthcare sector, with a particular emphasis on addressing the critical issue of brain drain among medical professionals.
Speaking to the media yesterday (27), following the submission of a 12-point proposal to all candidates contesting the 2024 Presidential Election, GMOA Spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe stressed the importance of economic justice for doctors. He stated that any Presidential candidate who wins the election must prioritise the resolution of salary-related issues within the medical profession.
“It is imperative that the next Government addresses the disparity in doctors' salaries, ensuring economic justice for those serving in this essential field,” he stated.
He further emphasised the need for reform in the current tax regime, which he described as unfair and opaque. According to Dr. Wijesinghe, the recent tax scheme has placed an undue burden on medical professionals, prompting many to consider leaving the country in search of better opportunities.
“The existing tax scheme needs to be revised. A transparent and fair mechanism for tax collection must be implemented to prevent further brain drain,” he added.
The GMOA's proposals also highlighted the challenges faced by doctors in pursuing postgraduate studies. He called for enhanced opportunities in higher education and the removal of obstacles hindering postgraduate education in the medical field.
“A future Government must focus on creating a conducive environment for medical professionals to pursue advanced studies, which will ultimately benefit the country's healthcare system,” he noted.
In addition to addressing human resource related issues, the GMOA stressed the importance of efficiently managing physical resources within the healthcare sector. Dr. Wijesinghe urged the Government to take steps towards creating an efficient public service, including reinstating the pension scheme for all public servants recruited after 2016.
“An efficient public service is crucial for the effective functioning of the healthcare system, and reinstating the pension scheme is a vital step in this direction,” he stated.
The GMOA also expressed concern over the state of medical education, particularly the trend towards privatisation under the guise of expanding educational opportunities. Dr. Wijesinghe called for a halt to this practice, advocating instead for the streamlining of medical education within the public sector.
“The privatisation of medical education should not be allowed to compromise the quality and accessibility of education for aspiring doctors,” he added.
Furthermore, the Association urged Presidential candidates to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and to formulate a comprehensive policy for the development of nutrition related programmes. Dr. Wijesinghe highlighted the need for an immediate plan to tackle the ongoing medicine shortage and to ensure that the quality standards of medicines are upheld.
“An urgent plan is needed to address the current medicine shortage and to guarantee that the medicines available meet the required standards,” he concluded. “There were a lot of low quality drugs coming into the country through emergency procurement. We didn’t check the companies that they were coming from, and that was the Government's mistake. However, due to Sri Lanka lacking the optimal conditions to transport and store these drugs, there have been cases where these drugs have been damaged and the quality has been reduced. Our lack of lab facilities in order to test drugs for quality has also been an issue when ascertaining the quality of drugs coming into the country.”