The Ministry of Health is to recall retired doctors on contract basis as a solution for the dire shortage of doctors and specialists existing in the country’s health sector.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (13), the Secretary to the Ministry Janaka Sri Chandraguptha said that a decision is being made by the Ministry to recall them while giving them all the privileges that they were enjoying when they were in service. He also stated that the said decision was taken after considering the huge shortage of doctors and specialists in government hospitals all over the country.

Chandraguptha said that they are to be recruited on contract basis.

Earlier, the Ministry recalled a gazette issued by the former Government making the retirement age of doctors 63 years and took a decision that the specialist doctors who complete 63 years of age, should retire by 30 June 2023, while those who are over 62 years of age should retire by 31 December 2023, and those who are over 61 years of age should retire by 30 June 2024, and those who are over 60 years of age should retire by 31 December 2024.

Recently, United National Party Parliamentarian Wajira Abeywardana said that retired doctors should be recalled immediately to work in hospitals such as Karapitiya in Galle where there is a large number of vacancies due to migration of medical professionals.