The pediatrician at Mannar Hospital has reportedly been missing for several days without notice, causing significant disruption to patient care. Hospital management and staff have been unable to contact him, as his phone has been disconnected, raising concerns about his whereabouts and the impact on medical services.
According to Dr. M. Hanifa, Medical Superintendent of Mannar Hospital, the specialist doctor had failed to report to work for several days, and despite multiple attempts to reach him, his whereabouts remained unknown. However, a letter sent via WhatsApp was later discovered, in which the doctor stated his intention to leave the country. Dr. Hanifa confirmed that the hospital has already forwarded the letter to the relevant authorities for further action.
To minimize inconvenience to patients, the hospital administration is considering temporarily deputing a pediatrician from Vavuniya General Hospital. Other doctors at Mannar Hospital have also verified that the doctor left his position without formally informing the governing authority, which has led to a sudden halt in all pediatric services.
Due to the lack of a pediatric specialist and the inability to immediately appoint a replacement, the pediatric ward at Mannar Hospital has come to a complete standstill. As a temporary solution, hospital management has begun transferring pregnant mothers, newborns, and children requiring medical attention to Vavuniya General Hospital.
Authorities are now investigating the situation while working on a long-term solution to restore pediatric services at Mannar Hospital.
