Nearly 300 specialist doctors will have to retire from public service on or before December 31st of 2022 as per the circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration amending the retirement age of state employees.
It has been proposed in the Interim Budget 2022 to amend the retirement age of state sector employees to 60 years, from the 65 years age requirement implemented in 2021.
Accordingly, all Government employees aged 60 years or above must retire by December 31st, 2022.
The Association of Specialist Doctors has pointed out that this change will result in the collapse of the health sector, especially remote hospitals in the country.
The Association revealed that under the directive, 43 specialists of the Colombo National Hospital, 30 specialists of the Kandy National Hospital, 17 specialists of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, 15 specialists of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, and 09 specialists of the Apeksha Hospital will have to retire.
Stating that existing specialist doctors at provincial and primary hospitals will have to be transferred to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of specialist doctors, the Association said it is not possible to transfer specialist doctors without filling the vacancies first.
“Usually, only specialist doctors who are already trained abroad can be transferred in this manner. However, in view of the current crisis in the country, a significant group of specialist doctors are likely to remain abroad,” the Association of Specialist Doctors added. (NewsWire)
