The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Thank you, Sir. Good afternoon to everyone!

¶ 02 We all know doctors belong to a noble profession. As I understand, there are 16 doctors on the Government side and four on this side. I have no personal issues with any of you. Considering the economic turmoil of 2022–2023 and political instability, our doctors—and even nurses—began leaving the country. To produce an MBBS doctor costs between about Rs. 7–12.8 million per various university estimates; to produce a consultant, from A/Ls to consultancy, takes about 15 years and costs over Rs. 15 million—about Rs. 18 million in many cases. Last year alone, about 2,400 doctors left, causing a loss of Rs. 36 billion. If another 5,000 leave this year, as the Leader of the Opposition said, the loss will be around Rs. 75 billion.

¶ 03 Doctors work 24 hours, often on call. If a case becomes complicated, we get calls at all hours. We know a doctor’s burdens because we have lived them. We expected that this Budget would at least give us some relief—at minimum, the ability to import a vehicle. Today, a doctor needs to save for 40 years to buy a private vehicle. A postgraduate trainee couple can save roughly Rs. 50,000 a month; it takes 20 years to afford one family vehicle. The main reason doctors leave is economic instability—they cannot service their loans.

¶ 04 Postgraduate trainees study five, six, seven years beyond MBBS. They do not receive OT; their pay is calculated on 1/160 rather than 1/120; they have no quarters, no vehicles; they struggle even for basic expenses and loans. I propose we address this. Most of our system relies on PG trainees. I too, as a PG trainee (MSc in Medical Administration), first served at Chavakachcheri Base Hospital. When I tried to stop a fraud there, I was jailed—yet none of those I caught are in this Parliament now. I raised it with Ranil Wickremesinghe, P. G. Mahipala, and even the then Leader of the Opposition. A private suit against me is fixed for the 25th. When I tried to stop some doctors from diverting patients to earn privately, cases were filed against me; they are still ongoing.

¶ 05 We have never treated PG trainees properly. They do not work three or four hours—they report at 8 a.m. and work long days. We must provide quarters, fair remuneration, and a viable pathway so they remain and serve our people.