GMOF: Specialists hogging posts in Colombo at the expense of young docs

By Chaminda Silva

Dr. Rukshan Bellana, President of the Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF), yesterday said that the government decision to retire government servants must be made applicable to specialist doctors,as well.

Dr. Bellana said currently there were a large number of medical specialists over 60 in Colombo.

“We produce around 1,500 new medical graduates each year. On the other hand, there are many medical specialists who have been serving rural communities for a long time. These medical specialists can’t serve in Colombo because of the specialists who hog posts here,” he said.

Dr. Bellana said the medical sector would not collapse if medical specialists, over 60, retired. There were a number of young doctors and they should be given the opportunity to come up, he said.