100 post-intern medical officers for N/E

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will send 100 post-intern medical officers to the State hospitals located in the North and East in order to release 100 doctors who have been serving in those two provinces for over one year, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

Minister De Silva was addressing the gathering after handing over appointment letters to 200 post-intern doctors during a ceremony held at the National Blood Centre, Colombo yesterday.

Minister De Silva said that 12 doctors have opted not to join the State service because they are employed in the private sector and it is good decision because doctors should have relaxed mind to deliver a better service.

When they are struggling with time to serve in the State sector and private sector at the same time they cannot deliver a quality service to the public through either State sector or the private sector. Private sector need full time doctors.

According to Minister De Silva, Sri Lanka has an adequate number of doctors and MBBS doctors can go abroad.

The problem lies with specialist doctors such as anesthesians, radiologists, neurologists etc. Sri Lanka spends millions of dollars to train them and they leave the country after obtaining the training.

They receive free education from the monies of farmers and the poor people. Therefore, in the future they would be allowed to go abroad for training only after completing a certain number of years in Sri Lanka.

Minister De Silva pointed out that he is trying to get a resolution passed through the WHO which will enable Sri Lanka and other Third World countries to obtain a payment from the countries which employ doctors belonging to other countries such as Sri Lanka, India and other third world countries.

This will prevent third world countries from being affected by the migration of trained healthn professionals.

People spend their hard earned money on liquor and smoking. The new post-intern doctors who go to serve in rural areas have a special responsibility to educate the public on non communicable diseases and play a role of a good communicator and manager apart from treating patients.

Doctors need many skills other than academic knowledge to carry out their duties effectively, the Minister pointed out.