Sri Lanka’s Healthcare System Faces Crisis as Doctors and Health Workers Flee
Once hailed as one of the region’s finest, Sri Lanka’s healthcare system now grapples with a severe crisis. The exodus of over 1,700 medical professionals in the past two years, including doctors and other healthcare workers, has left the nation vulnerable. Patients languish as the loss of talent takes its toll.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association reports that more than 1,700 medical officers—a collective term for doctors and healthcare professionals—have departed Sri Lanka recently. This starkly contrasts with the approximately 200 departures recorded in 2021. The impact on the country’s much-praised universal health system, relied upon by most of its 22 million citizens, is profound.
Srimal Nalaka, a patient waiting for his monthly diabetes checkup, laments the scarcity of doctors. The economic crisis exacerbates the situation, especially for those with health issues. Nalaka, who suffers from a diabetic ulcer, reflects the sentiments of many.
Alarming trends continue. A health ministry report reveals that 4,284 doctors have obtained “Good Standing” certificates, essential for verifying professional status with foreign regulators, between June 2022 and July 2023. These certificates hint at further departures. Additionally, more than 5,000 doctors have secured medical licenses in Britain, Australia, and the Middle East. Thousands more have reserved slots for foreign licensing exams in the coming years.
Sri Lanka’s financial woes, which began in 2022 with a debt default, have led to the departure of over two million citizens seeking work or education abroad. While the economy inches toward recovery, the healthcare system remains strained. With only 1.2 doctors per 1,000 people, access to quality treatment and medicines faces significant challenges.
