Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has raised concerns over seven (07) key issues related to Sri Lanka’s healthcare professionals.
He raised the matter when speaking in Parliament today on disease prevention and treatment.
- Government must prevent brain drain in the Medical Sector
MP Premadasa revealed there are significant challenges in developing the healthcare sector and retaining professionals in the country. According to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), the allowance rate for additional duties of all categories of doctors has been reduced from 1/80 to 1/120 per hour. Additionally, the allowance for working on holidays and Sundays has been cut from 1/20 to 1/30, he said.
He further highlighted the difficulties faced by medical professionals, including reduced retention and transport allowances, unresolved vehicle permit issues, inadequate allowances for resident doctors, and outdated financial support for postgraduate medical education. As a result, a significant number of doctors have already left the country, with more preparing to migrate for foreign medical opportunities.
- Nurses affected by allowance cuts
The Opposition Leader pointed out similar issues in the nursing profession, stating that the government holiday and weekly rest day allowance has been reduced from 1/20 to 1/30 of the basic salary, while the hourly service allowance has been cut from 1/160 to 1/200.
Emphasizing the crucial role of nurses in the healthcare sector, he urged the government to reconsider its treatment of nursing professionals, particularly at a time when the country is facing a severe shortage of nurses. He also criticized the government’s stance toward nurses who participated in political rallies while in uniform.
- Unemployment among Allied Health Science Graduates
MP Premadasa further highlighted the struggles faced by Allied Health Science Graduates, many of whom remain unemployed despite coming through the free education system. He urged the government to provide employment opportunities and proceed with new recruitments.
Additionally, he raised concerns about Ayurvedic graduates, stating that approximately 1,800 graduates are currently unemployed despite 600 vacancies in the indigenous medicine sector. He noted that around 200 Ayurvedic graduates complete their internship training annually and called for immediate solutions.
- Address the challenges in the Ayurvedic Sector
The Ayurveda Act No. 19 of 2023 has created significant challenges for Ayurvedic entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and shop owners involved in the cultivation, processing, sale, and distribution of indigenous medicines.
MP Premadasa emphasized that this has also inconvenienced patients and urged the government to provide necessary solutions.
- Make dengue control officers permanent
MP Premadasa also called for the permanent appointment of Dengue Control Assistant Officers, who currently work on a salary scale of Rs. 22,000.
He urged the government to intervene and regularize their employment status.
- Support for hospital Junior Staff
The Opposition Leader stressed the importance of overtime allowances for junior hospital staff, who provide essential services but do not receive proper compensation.
He also highlighted the struggles of Family Health Service Officers, who receive just Rs. 2 per kilometer as travel expenses, despite lacking adequate facilities.
With vacancies in this field, 937 candidates are awaiting appointments, while another 1,200 are currently in training. MP Premadasa called for immediate solutions, recognizing the critical role of disease prevention efforts.
- Health and Education are Fundamental Human Rights
MP Sajith Premadasa asserted that health and education are fundamental human rights. While Sri Lanka’s Constitution recognizes civil and political rights, he stressed that economic, social, cultural, health and educational rights must also be upheld.
He called on the government to officially recognize healthcare as a human right and assured the full support of the opposition in ensuring its realization. (Newswire)
