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Going gets tough for Lankan doctors playing truant in UK

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

The General Medical Council (GMC) in UK has responded positively to the request made by the Health Secretary through the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, by agreeing to take stern action against Sri Lankan doctors who have gone there on Government scholarships and failed to return.

The GMC- UK has informed that after investigations, it would take appropriate measures including issuing a warning letter against such Sri Lankan doctors if they are found to have violated their bond agreements.

In extremely serious cases, the GMC would consider striking them off the medical register, the GMC had indicated to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner.This follows Health Secretary Thilak Ranaviraja's recent request to Sri Lanka's High Commissioner Mangala Moonasinghe in UK, to urge the Medical Council in UK not to entertain Sri Lanka Medical Graduates over-staying in foreign countries dishonouring their obligations.

According to the Ministry reports, there are almost 60 doctors who had gone to different countries under Government funded scholarship and not returned to date. Of them, 37 are in UK. The scholarships were for higher training on paid leave. The Government incurred Rs 1.5 million per doctor and so far only four of them had reimbursed the Government. This year alone, the Ministry has spent a sum of Rs 145 million for Postgraduate Training of Medical Officers.

The majority of these doctors who have not returned are anaesthetists, while the others include surgeons, radiologists and psychiatrists.

The defaulters are already considered to have vacated their posts, but action will be taken against them in any case, Ministry sources affirmed.

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