Visa for foreign doctors only after registration

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

All foreign doctors coming to treat the displaced persons in the North would be given a visa only after they temporary register with the Sri Lanka Medical Council, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament yesterday.

The registration of the Sri Lanka Medical Council would be granted only to those who have qualifications and only the qualified and competent doctors would be granted a Visa', he said.

The Minister was answering a question raised by JVP MP Ranaweera Pathirana whether these doctors coming from abroad to serve in the North are qualified doctors with experience", he said.

The Minister further said that there is a severe shortage of surgeons and anaesthetics. The Health Ministry had made requests to all friendly nations to send anaesthetics and surgeons to Sri Lanka at this moment.

The Ministry had sent 268 doctors and 500 nurses to serve the welfare centres in the North. He further said that 25 ambulances and 500 beds collected from Hospitals in the South have already been sent to the North.

"That's how Southerns look after their displaced counterparts in the North," he further said.