Last week, The Sunday Morning reported that nearly 700 doctors, including some medical consultants, had left Sri Lanka and migrated overseas, based on estimates by the Ministry of Health. 

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena, commenting on the recent issues faced by specialist paediatricians at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital in that article, indicated that the staff shortage suffered by the said unit was a result of the Dean and faculty of the Rajarata University granting leave to specialists who were assigned to the facility. 

However, the Rajarata University Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences Dean Dr. P.H.G. Janaka Pushpakumara disputed the allegation made by the DGHS. 

Following is the clarification issued by Dr. Pushpakumara and Vice Chancellor Prof. G.A.S. Ginigaddara: 

“The Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, was continuing academic activities with many challenges which are specific to the faculty, due to shortage of academic staff since its inception. There were several remedial actions initiated to promote recruitments and retention of the staff. However, with the present economic situation and Government restrictions, some of the actions couldn’t be completed and some of them were discontinued.

“Two specialist paediatricians out of the three specialists who were in active service requested a three-month vacation leave in August and November 2022 for personal reasons. Considering the facts and contextual factors, the university decided to grant them leave for two main reasons: (1) to see the possibility of retaining them by preventing direct resignation in the context of recruitment temporarily disabled by the Government and (2) to attract academics who are willing to serve at least for a limited period. We deny the reports published stating the specialists left without arranging a cover-up by signing for each other, as it was signed by the third specialist available in the department. 

“However, subsequently, they decided to resign from their posts. The third specialist in the department was waiting for her mandatory overseas training. After foreseeing the crisis, we have taken the following actions to avoid possible issues to come: (1) Requesting to release the specialist who had already been selected for the Paediatrics Department from the Ministry of Health by the Rajarata University who had already requested a releasement; (2) Recruiting two senior specialists, retired from the Ministry of Health, on an assignment basis; (3) Requesting to create a secondment post in the Professorial Paediatrics Unit for the 2023 annual transfer list; and (4) Requesting to appoint a specialist on secondment basis from the Ministry of Health. 

“Despite the repeated requests made over the last six months from the Ministry of Health, they failed to release the specialist who had already been selected for the Paediatrics Department of the university, before the present crisis in the ward. Despite the severe shortage of academic staff, medical undergraduate training was conducted without disruption or compromising the quality using resources from some other hospitals at alternative locations.

“The specialist who was waiting for the overseas training decided to leave after conducting the final MBBS examination. Unfortunately, the only available senior specialist requested one month of leave due to a health issue commencing on the same date. 

“After identifying the impending crisis, two weeks before the closure of the unit, we discussed with the two paediatricians at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital attached to the Ministry of Health and the Director of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital and informed the Ministry of Health. Despite the repeated discussions, the Ministry of Health failed to release the specialist, who had already been selected for the Paediatrics Department, or appoint a specialist on at least a temporary basis before the crisis.

“In the absence of a specialist paediatrician, the Director of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital decided to close the unit temporarily. However, two specialist paediatricians attached to the Ministry of Health of the Anuradhapura Hospital kindly agreed to continue the professorial paediatric training in their units, showing their commitment to strengthening the country’s medical education.

“With the appointment of an acting paediatrician for a one-week period by the Ministry of Health, the unit reopened yesterday (7 April). However, we expect that the Ministry of Health will release the specialist, who had already been selected for the Paediatrics Department of the university, and appoint her to the professorial unit on a secondment basis at their earliest.

“We want to emphasise that we have done everything in the best interest of the development of the faculty, tolerating several challenges during this difficult period.”