Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva addressed concerns regarding the shortage of medical professionals and healthcare workers in the country during a parliamentary session on the motion of no confidence against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. He emphasized that this issue is not unique to Sri Lanka but is a global challenge faced by countries worldwide.
Minister de Silva referred to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), which projects a significant shortfall of 12.9 million medical professionals globally by the year 2035.
He pointed out that several countries, including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, are grappling with their own shortages of medical professionals. Many medical experts from around the world often seek employment opportunities in these nations, making it difficult for developing countries like Sri Lanka to retain them.
inister de Silva highlighted that it is a common practice for healthcare professionals to seek opportunities abroad, and it is challenging for Sri Lanka to prevent their emigration.
He concluded by acknowledging the limitations of both the minister and the government in preventing medical professionals from seeking opportunities abroad. Minister de Silva suggested that the focus should shift towards developing a robust system to address the shortage issue within the country.
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