Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has raised serious concerns over seven key issues affecting Sri Lanka’s healthcare professionals. Speaking in Parliament today (6) on disease prevention and treatment, he called for urgent government intervention to address these challenges.
Preventing Brain Drain in the Medical Sector
MP Premadasa highlighted the ongoing exodus of medical professionals, attributing it to reduced allowances and inadequate financial support. The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has reported that the allowance rate for additional duties has been slashed from 1/80 to 1/120 per hour, while the allowance for work on holidays and Sundays has been reduced from 1/20 to 1/30.
Further issues include cutbacks in retention and transport allowances, unresolved vehicle permit concerns, inadequate financial support for postgraduate medical education, and a severe shortage of resident doctor allowances. As a result, many doctors have already left the country, with more preparing to migrate.
Challenges Faced by Nurses
The nursing profession has also been affected, with holiday and weekly rest day allowances reduced from 1/20 to 1/30 of the basic salary, and hourly service allowances cut from 1/160 to 1/200. Premadasa criticized the government for failing to address the shortage of nurses and for penalizing those who participated in political rallies while in uniform.
Unemployment Among Allied Health Science and Ayurvedic Graduates
MP Premadasa pointed out that many Allied Health Science graduates remain unemployed, despite having completed their education through the free education system. Similarly, around 1,800 Ayurvedic graduates are also jobless, despite 600 vacancies in the indigenous medicine sector.
He called for immediate recruitment to fill these positions, as 200 new Ayurvedic graduates complete their training annually.
Issues with the Ayurveda Act
The Ayurveda Act No. 19 of 2023 has imposed significant restrictions on Ayurvedic entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and shop owners, negatively impacting the cultivation, sale, and distribution of indigenous medicines. Premadasa called on the government to amend the act to ensure both industry growth and patient access to treatment.
Permanent Appointments for Dengue Control Officers
The Opposition Leader urged the government to make Dengue Control Assistant Officers permanent, stating that these workers, who are currently on a Rs. 22,000 salary scale, deserve job security and fair compensation.
Support for Hospital Junior Staff
Premadasa also emphasized the importance of overtime allowances for junior hospital staff, who play a crucial role in service delivery but receive inadequate pay.
Additionally, Family Health Service Officers currently receive just Rs. 2 per kilometer for travel expenses despite the lack of adequate transport facilities. Premadasa pointed out that 937 candidates are awaiting appointments, while 1,200 more are still in training, urging immediate action to address these vacancies.
Healthcare as a Fundamental Right
Concluding his remarks, MP Sajith Premadasa asserted that health and education are fundamental human rights. While Sri Lanka’s Constitution guarantees civil and political rights, he emphasized that economic, social, cultural, health, and educational rights must also be upheld.
He called on the government to officially recognize healthcare as a basic human right and pledged the full support of the opposition in ensuring its implementation.
