• High salaries and other perks cited as reasons for joining medical academia 

In the wake of a significant number of medical specialists leaving the country or opting to join private hospitals, concerns have been raised over the newest trend of specialists leaving hospital service and joining universities’ medical faculties, The Daily Morning learns.

It was reported that the serious economic crisis that has emerged in the country in the last few years has led to a large number of medical specialists migrating or leaving the service in Government hospitals to join private hospitals. The situation has had a great impact on the country’s health sector.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, a senior medical specialist attached to a leading State hospital said that a significant number of medical specialists leaving the service at hospitals and joining universities’ medical faculties has also led to the worsening of the prevailing health sector crisis. “Specialists receive a high salary when working in universities in addition to many other perks. Therefore, there is currently a trend of many leaving hospitals and joining universities.”

Against this backdrop, sources within the Health Ministry told The Daily Morning that a committee has been entrusted with investigating the reasons behind the exodus of health professionals to other countries and making recommendations about the measures to be taken regarding medical professionals who migrate without proper permission while also proposing the necessary measures to retain them in the country. When queried regarding the committee’s work, a senior official of the ministry, who is also a member of the said committee, said that the relevant committee is chaired by a Deputy Director General of Health Services. The official said that the committee is currently preparing the final report and that the same would be released soon.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on Monday (14), the Ministry’s Secretary Janaka Sri Chandraguptha said that the ministry would initiate action against any medical professional who migrates or leaves Government hospitals without proper permission. “We have no issues if they obtain approval from the relevant authorities before migrating or joining private hospitals. Our concern is about those who do so without prior notice.

”

To become a specialist, a medical officer is entitled to study leave with pay and upon receiving specialist training abroad, is required to serve in Sri Lanka for a minimum of eight years. It is said that the Government spends between Rs. 12 and 15 million to train a specialist. It is against this backdrop that 120 out of 363 medical specialists who returned to Sri Lanka after completing overseas training have reportedly migrated without obtaining the proper permissions.