82 doctors idling in the Ministry of Health while 47 medical centers shut in Sri Lanka due to doctor shortage

A spokesman of Sri Lanka Ministry of Health said to local Sinhala newspaper The Diavaina that 92 doctors were idling in government hospitals while 47 medical centers were shut island wide due to shortage of doctors.

These doctors are attached to the Ministry of Health without assigning them proper duty, the spokesman says pointing out that they are engaged in duties of the clerks in some instances.However, many of them report to duty only once or twice a week and sign for the whole week, the spokesman points out adding that they withdraw even overtime.

These doctors are attached to the Ministry of Health in the guise of bio-medical engineers and planners, the spokesman says. But the real motive of them is to avoid service in difficult area with the influence of the senior officials of the Ministry.