More medical staff to be recruited

Lakmini Rodrigo

COLOMBO: A new cadre provision to increase the recruitment of doctors, nurses and medical officers in all hospitals will be implemented within the next two months, Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. He added that most hospitals had a shortage of medical staff though there were no vacancies according to the existing cadre provision.

Minister de Silva pointed out that the current cadre provision was approved before 1995, but with the increased population and additional hospital facilities it was essential to increase the cadre to fulfil the present public requirements.

Observing that the health sector has undergone a vast improvement since 1995 with new units added to hospitals, the Minister said he has obtained Cabinet approval to raise the cadre.

"I have obtained all details of requirements for staff in every hospital and submitted them to Public Administration and to the Public Services Commission for approval," he added.

The Minister observed that there was excess staff according to the former cadre in hospitals, but it was insufficient as the demand for staff increased with the enhanced facilities provided at hospitals recently.

Consultancy services in four main aspects - gynaecology, surgery, medical services and paediatrics - have been provided to most hospitals and some hospitals have received second units as well, he said.

Minister de Silva said that he had taken action to provide sufficient manpower by training a large numbers of nurses, midwives and other health workers.

He would ensure that the newly trained staff would be properly deployed to provide an efficient service to the public.