5,000 Doctors Preparing to Leave Sri Lanka: GMOA

06-Nov-2025

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Due to the ongoing economic crisis, over 2,000 Sri Lankan doctors have already migrated, and more than 5,000 are preparing to leave, warned the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).

At a press conference in Colombo, Dr. Vasan Ratnasinha, GMOA Executive Committee Member, urged the government to address these issues in the 2026 Budget to retain medical professionals and protect free healthcare.

He outlined eight recommendations, emphasizing the need to retain specialists and doctors, resolve salary and working condition issues, and ensure adequate supply of essential medicines, which remain critically short in many hospitals.

He warned that the government’s attempt to expand healthcare services with fewer doctors is impractical and called for dialogue with the President and Health Minister—requests that have been pending for four months without response.