More doctors for North East hospitals

Mohammed Naalir

The Government dispatched 376 doctors to serve in all State hospitals in the North and East yesterday. This is the largest batch of medical personnel sent to the North the East.

Accordingly 249 doctors were deployed in State Hospitals in the Eastern Province while 87 were deployed in the State hospitals in the Northern Province.

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva presented appointment letters to 729 doctors yesterday at a ceremony held at Maharagama National Youth Services Council (NYSC) auditorium. Minister de Silva noted that the Government is spending a huge sum of money to improve the health sector whilst also spending money on the war.

He said the Government has spent Rs. 89 billion to develop the health sector last year.

He said the Governmnent has increased the salaries of the doctors two years ago.

The allowance of the doctors has also been increased from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10,000 last year.

The Minister stated that private practice for all Specialists and Grade Medical Officers are still continuing irrespective of the large numbers absorbed. The Grade Medical Officers and Consultants are entitled to four hours extra duty daily and their payments per hour has been increased to Rs. 250 and Rs 350 respectively Minister Siripala de Silva added.

The Minister noted that Sri Lanka holds second place in the South Asian region in relation to human resources. There are six doctors and 14 nurses in Sri Lanka per 10000 persons of the population. There are seven doctors and eight nurses per 10,000 persons of the population. There are 3.2 beds per 10000 persons of the population in Lanka.

Minister de Silva said that 4935 medical officers have been appointed from 2004 to 2009 including the North and East.

He said that the Public Administration Ministry has agreed to issue a duty free permit to all Specialists who complete three years service in the specialist grade.