In a concerning development, approximately 40 government hospitals across the island have ceased operations, with an additional 100 teetering on the brink of closure. The revelation emerged during a pivotal meeting today (27) between Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and health officials.
The impacted hospitals, grappling with a severe shortage of medical staff, are primarily concentrated in the Northern Province, as well as the Puttalam and Nuwara Eliya districts.
In response to this critical situation, Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana has issued a directive to the officials at the Ministry of Health. He urged them to take immediate and decisive action to reopen and sustain operations in hospitals facing imminent closure. The Minister underscored the paramount importance of swiftly reinstating patient care services.
Further investigations have uncovered that the current wave of closures and impending shutdowns can be attributed to a multitude of factors. These include doctors departing for overseas opportunities, retiring from their positions, undergoing transfers, and resigning from their roles within the healthcare system. The cumulative impact of these factors has precipitated a crisis in the healthcare sector, necessitating urgent intervention to safeguard public health.
