Health Minister sounds alarm on exodus of doctors at WHO annual assembly

Thursday, 22 May 2025 04:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has urged for countries to adopt more responsible and ethical recruitment practices, as local authorities battle to strengthen the country’s primary healthcare system, as part of the Government’s broader policy vision, “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life.”

He was speaking at the 78th World Health Assembly being held in Geneva, Switzerland. The theme of this year’s Health Assembly is: One World for Health. Dr. Jayatissa emphasised the importance of global cooperation, sustainable health financing, and resilient systems in the face of mounting challenges such as economic instability, disease outbreaks, and the migration of healthcare professionals.

“We have faced many challenges over the past half-century, and we are recovering from recent economic turmoil with the strength of the public and global goodwill,” he said. “Our policy aligns with the global One World for Health initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Dr. Jayatissa highlighted that Sri Lanka’s outpatient department visits are three times the size of its population, underscoring the urgent need to prevent the bypassing of primary health institutions — a key issue in the country’s healthcare delivery.

A major concern raised was the mass migration of health professionals. Between 2022 and 2025, Sri Lanka lost 726 consultants, 1,116 medical officers, and nearly 2,800 nursing officers to overseas employment.

The Minister called on destination countries to uphold the World Health Organisation (WHO) Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, urging more responsible and ethical recruitment practices.

“Sri Lanka has borne significant financial losses in training these professionals. We believe destination countries must share responsibility,” he added.

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