In a surprising shift, Sri Lanka is witnessing a new trend specialist doctors trained overseas are increasingly staying back to serve remote areas. Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa highlights this growing patriotism and unveils bold plans to transform healthcare access in underserved regions like Batticaloa.
Doctors Staying Instead of Leaving? Minister Confirms Surge in Specialist Retention in Sri Lanka
A promising trend is emerging in Sri Lanka’s healthcare system: a growing number of specialist doctors are choosing to stay in the country rather than migrate abroad. Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa revealed this shift during a special inspection of health services in the Batticaloa district, particularly at Eravur Hospital in the Eastern Province.
The Minister’s visit aimed to assess healthcare delivery at local hospitals and resolve existing service issues. At a key discussion with Eravur Hospital’s staff and administration, Dr. Jayatissa highlighted that many foreign-trained specialist doctors, once appointed to remote areas like the North and East, would previously leave the country soon after. However, this concerning trend is now beginning to reverse.
“When we took over, nearly 70% of foreign-trained specialists were leaving again. Today, we see 60-70% of them choosing to stay. This is a very positive shift,” the Minister said.
He noted that with a national pool of approximately 2,000 specialist doctors, the return and retention of these professionals—especially in underserved regions could significantly address the country’s healthcare gaps. The government, he said, is committed to providing all necessary facilities to retain specialists and ensure even remote hospitals receive qualified care.
Eravur Hospital, which caters to over 100,000 residents, is set to be upgraded to a base hospital with better infrastructure. However, Dr. Jayatissa warned that the biggest challenge isn’t just buildings it’s the shortage of skilled human resources.
“Providing human capital isn’t as easy as constructing buildings. This year, we will update the outdated vacancy lists across all hospitals and work on ensuring proper staffing,” he assured.
This inspection is part of the Health Ministry’s nationwide initiative to modernize government hospitals, improve patient services, and deliver advanced, people-centered healthcare. Through district-level reviews like this, the Ministry aims to quickly identify and resolve service delivery shortcomings.
During the visit, Eravur Hospital Director Dr. Waruna Sampath Bandara briefed the Minister on the hospital’s current staffing levels, physical infrastructure, ongoing upgrades, and proposed future projects.
The government hopes that this growing trend of doctors choosing to remain in Sri Lanka will strengthen the national healthcare system and ensure equitable access to specialized care across all regions.
