The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I support the Adjournment Motion brought today by the Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna on the challenges faced by medical specialists, and I thank him for bringing it to this House.

¶ 02 In our country, doctors first serve as Medical Officers. The next step is as consultants. Between these two there is no intermediate grade. In developed health systems, there is an intermediate cadre position for doctors. If we introduce that in our country, we can retain doctors who otherwise go abroad. Establishing an intermediate cadre will be an important step in further developing the health sector.

¶ 03 Today, many medical officers working in hospitals have received long-term training in specific fields, developed skills and experience, and work as excellent doctors in those fields. However, this does not significantly benefit their own career development. Therefore, introducing an intermediate cadre in our country is a good measure.

¶ 04 Many doctors here have completed Masters or postgraduate diplomas. Yet they are still counted as ordinary MOs, with no significant salary difference and no dedicated pay scheme. Therefore, an intermediate cadre should be incorporated into the medical service.

¶ 05 When changes are made across sectors, we must also reform the medical sector. For example, a doctor who completed a Diploma in Psychiatry and worked 20 years as a psychiatrist is transferred annually by PMC rules to general duties. This is very unfair. It wastes the knowledge, field experience, and developed expertise of two decades. Taking this into account, we must bring a special Service Minute for such doctors. Without such a Service Minute, we cannot create a proper intermediate cadre. With special training and, after a defined period during which they can practice independently in that field, they should be absorbed into this cadre.

¶ 06 If our universities—especially the Jaffna Medical Faculty—facilitate continuing postgraduate diplomas, Masters, or other courses, many doctors will apply. Therefore, I reiterate that the intermediate cadre must be introduced into our medical sector. It will be a key factor in improving our nation’s health sector. The Minister of Health should create a salary scale for those who have completed Masters or postgraduate diplomas and those with long experience in specific fields, and absorb them into this cadre. Many capable doctors have missed such opportunities and retired. We all support the motion proposed by Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna. We also support the facilities and opportunities for postgraduate trainees that he mentioned. Finally, I thank you for the opportunity.