Doctors Leaving Sri Lanka: A Growing Crisis in Healthcare

Sri Lanka is facing a serious healthcare crisis as thousands of doctors are preparing to leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad. According to the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), around 7,000 doctors have already decided to migrate, with 2,000 doctors having left the country so far. Another 5,000 doctors have obtained passports, indicating their intent to leave soon.

Shortage of Doctors in State Hospitals

This mass migration threatens to leave state hospitals severely understaffed. If the trend continues, Sri Lanka will face a shortage of around 7,000 doctors, putting immense pressure on the country’s free healthcare system. The lack of trained professionals could lead to longer waiting times, reduced quality of care, and increased strain on the remaining medical staff.

Why Are Doctors Leaving?

Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa, Secretary of the GMOA, highlighted key reasons why doctors are choosing to leave:

Low Salaries – Doctors' wages in Sri Lanka are not competitive compared to those in other countries.

Economic Struggles – High inflation and cost of living make it difficult for professionals to sustain a good quality of life.

Lack of Career Growth – Limited opportunities for professional development and specialization.

Poor Working Conditions – Many hospitals lack adequate resources, making it difficult for doctors to provide quality care.

GMOA’s Proposed Solutions and Challenges

The GMOA is calling on the government to introduce urgent measures in the 2025 national budget to prevent further brain drain. Their proposals include:

A special salary structure based on doctors’ qualifications, experience, and market demand.

Updated allowances to reflect the rising cost of living.

Better incentives to encourage doctors to stay and serve in the public healthcare system.

However, critics argue that significantly increasing doctor salaries, as proposed by the GMOA, could create salary disparities within the public sector, leading to dissatisfaction among other professionals and financial strain on the government. While higher salaries may help retain doctors, a balanced approach is needed to ensure fairness and sustainability across all public sector employees.

Impact on Other Professions

While doctors are at the forefront of migration concerns, other professional sectors such as IT, engineering, finance, and academia are also seeing an increase in skilled worker migration. Many professionals are choosing to leave due to similar salary and working condition issue