Shortage of 2,000–2,500 Doctors and Nearly 1,000 Specialists
06-Apr-2026.
Sri Lanka is currently facing a shortage of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 doctors, as well as nearly 1,000 specialist doctors. The government, without paying proper attention to this critical situation, is implementing a planned conspiracy to privatise the country’s health sector in line with conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), alleged Dr. Samal Sanjeewa, President of the Doctors’ Association for Civil Rights.
Elaborating further, he said the warning issued by the Minister of Health regarding the appointment of doctors who have completed their internship training is being viewed with disgust by professionals across the sector. Without holding any discussion on the demands of doctors, the Minister is attempting to suppress and intimidate them by abusing political power.
He said Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa should first resolve the health issues in his own district of Kalutara. Major and regional hospitals in Kalutara are in a deplorable condition, and some remain closed. A person who cannot even improve basic healthcare facilities in his own district trying to suppress doctors through authority reflects administrative failure, he said.
Despite the severe shortage of doctors and specialists, the Health Ministry has failed to establish essential policies such as a national health policy for the people, recruitment and transfer policies for human resource management, and policies for medicines and antibiotics.
He added that the Health Ministry is plagued by administrative mismanagement to the extent that it cannot even appoint a permanent Deputy Director for the national hospital closest to them.
He stressed that the Minister’s actions are not intended to protect the free healthcare service, but rather represent the starting point of a deliberate plan to privatise the country’s health sector in accordance with IMF conditions.
Facilities and medicines required for rural hospitals are being reduced and those hospitals are gradually being pushed towards closure. Through this, the government is attempting to weaken public healthcare and promote private healthcare where people must pay for treatment, he said.
He warned that the innocent poor people of the country are the ones most affected by this conflict. When poor people go to rural hospitals, they cannot obtain the required medicines and are unable to undergo laboratory tests.
He urged the Minister to immediately stop using the people as pawns to gain political advantage. He also called on the President to directly intervene, hold discussions with doctors, and arrive at an amicable solution.
He further alleged that officials such as the Director General of Health Services and the Ministry Secretary are providing false information to the government to safeguard their positions. He claimed they are acting this way to escape corruption allegations from the period of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. He urged the President to stop this “game” being played by the Minister while retaining corrupt officials.
Dr. Sanjeewa stated that doctors will not surrender due to the Minister’s oppressive decisions. If the government continues to act in a manner that disrupts the entire health system, all doctors, health sector trade unions, and other public sector unions will unite and launch protests against the Minister’s actions.
He also said that the doctors opposing the strike represent only a small group who speak after receiving benefits from the government. Therefore, he insisted that this “cat-and-mouse game” must end, and immediate negotiations must be initiated to resolve professional issues faced by doctors.
