Acting IGP meets prelates

Acting Inspector General of Police ( IGP) Deshbandu Tennakoon took part in religious observances at the Dalada Maligawa and obtained blessings of the mahanayaka theras of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters.

He was appointed as the Acting IGP on Wednesday for a three-month period. IGP Tennakoon said that combating drug trade and criminal activity would be his priority going forward. He said the ‘Aragalaya’ last year led to an increase in organised criminal activity.

IGP Tennakoon made these comments while visiting the Chief Prelate of the Malwathu Chapter most Ven Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala thero.

The Acting IGP thereafter visited the anunayaka thero of the Malwathu Chapter Ven Dimbulkumbure Sri Vimaladhamma thero.

The anunayaka urged Acting IGP Tennakoon to fulfill his duty as IGP by upholding the law and asserting that laws ought to be enforced impartially, regardless of political affilia

Visiting Ven Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana thero

tion or religion. The anunayaka thero further cited the widespread drug use as a significant factor in society's decline, leading to a state where even the smallest acts of selfharm are common. He emphasised the need for special attention and action to combat drug addiction among schoolchildren, stating that the menace has spread to villages.

The new IGP said plans are underway to launch a programme to eradicate organised crime and extortion, with results expected within two to three months.

Visiting Ven Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala thero

Sunday Times has published specific details of the dearth in each and every specialty, along with suggestions not only from ground- level experts but also such organizations like the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and trade unions such as the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) and the GMOA.

When contacted, a ministry source who declined to be named said that the ministry has made many recommendations to the authorities including salary increases, financial and non-financial allowances and also better facilities such as good quarters in the outstations, to stop doctors from leaving the country. There was hope that there would be some respite for doctors next month.

Focusing on the so-called ‘brain drain’, the source argued that it was really not so, as doctors and nurses were leaving the country not for higher positions but for more financial gain. This is because in addition to the direct taxes imposed on professionals, there are numerous indirect taxes which have made the cost of living skyrocket in Sri Lanka and living within one's means impossible.

Before looking at the medical specialties badly- hit by a dearth, the source said that there was also a responsibility on the part of the doctors to follow protocols if and when they wanted to leave Sri Lanka for greener pastures.

“Do you know that the Establishment Code, circulars and guidelines require permission to be sought, depending on one’s level even from the Prime Minister, when applying for leave to go abroad? This is not being implemented,” the source said, adding that some are leaving “paduratath nokiya”.

According to the ministry official:

• From January 9, 2022 to

November 5, 2023 there have been – 481 post- graduate trainees as medical specialists

• The numbers who have resigned or vacated their posts are: 165

• Therefore, the number left is: 316

• The number due to retire between 60+ and 63 is: 279 Arguing that there are adequate numbers to service the medical specialties, the source however conceded that there is a “major” shortfall in anaesthesiologists and transfusion medicine specialists and a shortfall in general surgery. There was also a dearth among psychiatrists.

One specialist, meanwhile, said that the authorities were just applying temporary plasters without taking solid action to solve the issue. They are attempting to keep the “big” hospitals running by sending the specialists from the periphery and smaller hospitals to those ones. They are putting temporary plasters and trying to run the system but the collapse will gradually shoot its tentacles from the periphery to the major hospitals too.

Another “plaster applying” process without treating the underlying causes is pulling out one specialist from a two-man station and relocating that person at a major hospital, said the same specialist, adding that then the person running the unit single- handedly

would be so over- worked that the person would want to quit the state health sector.

No one doubts that the premier centres in the major cities need to function smoothly but where are the permanent solutions, asked another specialist, calling what is happening now: “Atuwa kadala putuwa hadanawa wagey.”

Here are the numbers for general surgery secured by

Focusing on the so-called ‘brain drain’, the source argued that it was really not so, as doctors and nurses were leaving the country not for higher positions but for more financial gain. This is because in addition to the direct taxes imposed on professionals, there are numerous indirect taxes which have made the cost of living skyrocket in Sri Lanka and living within one's means impossible.