Provincial Health Ministers Warned Shortage Of Doctors May Resulted The Closure Of More Than 18 Hospitals

Several Provincial Council Health Ministers today complained to the Health Minister Maithrepala Sirisena that more than 18 Provincial Council run Hospitals are to be shut down soon due to not having a Single Doctor.

Addressing a Provincial Health Minister's Forum held at the National Blood Centre in Narahenpita,Colombo this morning  the Provincial Health Minister of the North Central Province Pahala Wijerathna Bandara said that more than 10 Hospitals in his Province facing a shut down due to not having a single doctor and several other Hospitals in the Province are running through the Doctors attached to the Main Hospitals of the Province due to the lack of Doctors.

There is a severe shortage of other Medical Professionals too at the Provincial Hospitals he stressed.He also said that this situation occurred  due to the delay of approving the Cadre of Medical Professionals for  the Provincial Hospitals.Speaking in the occasion the Health Minister and the Chief Minister of the Southern Provincial Council Shan Wijayalal de Silva has said that 08 Hospitals in the Matara District of the Province also facing a shut down due to not having a single doctor.He also stressed that the Operation Theaters of the Alpitiya Base Hospital in the province which has developed with the cost of Rs.500 Million were shut down since sometime back due to the shortage of Medical Professionals.

The Provincial Health Ministers of the Sabaragamuwa and the Eastern Provincial Councils too made similar remarks on the Shortage of Medical Professionals of their Provincial Hospitals.

Meanwhile the Deputy Director General of Health Services (Medical Services)Dr.Wimal Jayantha has said that the present cadre of Doctors are enough to cater the needs of the Patient treatment in the Government Hospitals and out of the 16,171 Doctors needed for the year 2010 ,9577 doctors are to be recruited for the Provincial Council Hospitals.

At the Conclusion the Health Minister Maithrepala Sirisena has urged the Provincial Health Ministers to submit a detailed report on the shortage of Medical Professionals in their Hospitals by  07th of October.