Complaints about unqualified foreign specialist doctors sought

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The public can make complaints to the Health Services Director General or to the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) if they come across any foreign specialist doctor practising in private hospitals without qualifications and legal authority, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, it is illegal for a foreign doctor to practice in Sri Lanka without qualifications stated by the SLMA.

The Health Ministry will strictly implement the state policy on this issue to ensure the safety and well being of the Sri Lankan public.

"All foreign and local doctors who come to Sri Lanka from abroad (either foreign doctors or the local doctors who study abroad) need to meet the relevant qualifications and legal requirements introduced by the SLMA if they wish to practices in Sri Lanka. It is a must for all doctors who practices in Sri Lanka," he said.

Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke will immediately take stern action against any foreign doctor who fails to meet those requirements and continues to practices in Sri Lanka.

The Health Ministry and the SLMC work together to ensure a quality health service for the Sri Lankan public and nobody will be allowed to play with the lives of innocent Sri Lankan patients, he added.