THREATENING TO BLACKLIST
About 2,000 doctors had left country during the past two years, All Ceylon Medical Officers’ Association (ACMOA) General Secretary Dr. Jayantha Bandara said on 16 August. Now about 5,000 more doctors were planning to leave the country, Dr Bandara said.
“ There are many reasons why professionals are leaving the country. Instead of addressing the concerns of doctors, the government is threatening to blacklist them and arrest them at the airport,” he said.
Dr. Bandara noted that the most professionals were worried about their future. “They are also troubled by high taxes and low pay,” he said. “Most doctors are now compelled to do 24-hour shifts. We are only paid for 10 hours. There are many other factors that drive them away. There is severe shortage of pharmaceutical drugs, and most health care staff spend time looking for medicines for patients.”
Dr. Bandara said all the doctors unions were unhappy the government’s decision to take legal action against medical professionals who left the country without the approval of the Minister of Health.
Recently, the only specialist anaesthetist at the Hambanthota Hospital left the country without informing the relevant officials.
