300 specialist doctors will need to leave the public sector by December 31st, 2022, at the latest, per the Ministry of Public Administration’s most recent circular regarding the maximum retirement age for state employees.
The retirement age was raised to 65 years in the request for this year that was made to the Parliament in 2021.
The retirement age for government employees was recently decreased to 60 by the revised budget that was presented.
As a result, by December 31, 2022, all government employees who are 60 years or older must retire.
As a result of this decision, specialised doctors who are currently employed at provincial and primary hospitals will need to be transferred in order to fill the gaps left by their retirement.
According to the association, specialist doctors cannot be transferred without first filling such positions.
Typically, this type of transfer can only be made to specialists who have previously had their training abroad.
However, the Association of Specialist Doctors stated that given the nation’s current difficulties, a sizable number of specialists are likely to remain abroad.
The Association of Specialist Doctors stressed that under those circumstances, the entire health system, including outlying institutions, may also implode.
The association notes that 43 specialists at Colombo National Hospital, 30 specialists at Kandy National Hospital, 17 specialists at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, 15 specialists at Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, and 9 specialists at Apeksha Hospital will be required to retire in accordance with the new circular.
