Exodus of doctors and health workers in Sri Lanka sparks crisis, leaves the poor vulnerable

More than 1,700 medical professionals have left the country over the past two years, says government data.

Feb 21, 2024 - 21:00

Exodus of doctors and health workers in Sri Lanka sparks crisis, leaves the poor vulnerable

Once considered one of the best in the region, Sri Lanka's healthcare system is ailing, laid low by the exodus of hundreds of doctors and, with patients left languishing, experts are calling on the government to act to stop the loss of talent.

More than 1,700 medical officers – an umbrella term for doctors and other healthcare professionals –have left Sri Lanka over the past two years, according to the Government Medical Officers’ Association trade union, which shared data exclusively with Context.

This compares to the departure of around 200 doctors and other health workers in 2021. The latest exodus has dealt a heavy blow to the island nation's much-praised universal health system on which most of its 22 million people depend.

“It is very sad to see the lack of doctors. The little support we had is slipping away,” said Srimal Nalaka, 47, who had been waiting for six hours for his monthly diabetes checkup at a state-run hospital south of the commercial capital Colombo.

“The economic crisis has hit us all, but for those of us with health issues the impact is even more severe,” said Nalaka, who has a diabetic ulcer on his right leg.

The worst may be yet to come.

A health ministry report, also shared exclusively with Context, showed...