The newly appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Palitha Mahipala, announced that there has been a moderate decrease in the number of doctors and consultants leaving the country. Speaking at a news briefing on Thursday (23), Dr. Mahipala stated that recent data from the past two to three weeks shows a downward trend in doctors leaving the country.
In the past, there was a concerning trend where doctors who went abroad for postgraduate training did not return to the country. However, Dr. Mahipala noted that there has been a positive shift, with more doctors now choosing to come back. Some doctors who had previously left the country for other reasons are also returning.
Dr. Mahipala emphasized that the Ministry is actively engaging with trade unions and other stakeholders to find the best solutions to address this issue comprehensively. It is crucial to ensure that the country retains its specialists, considering the significant investment of time and resources required to produce them.
Meanwhile, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, the Director General of Health Services, stated that the Ministry has instructed provincial health directors to provide detailed information about the recipients of the controversial Immunoglobulin drug. So far, there have been no reported complications related to the use of this drug. However, the Medical Research Institute is conducting further investigations to ensure its safety.
