Jaffna doctors protest reduction in intern appointments

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 September 2007, 00:10 GMT]
The Medical Officers Association of Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) announced Wednesday that doctors will stage a token protest Friday against the Sri Lanka Health Ministry for turning down request for more medical interns. The Health Ministry slashed the number of 31 interns to 19.

Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) Administration had requested the Health Ministry for fifty-one medical interns, the number needed to compensate for the current shortage of doctors.

Medical graduates passing out of the Universities in Sri Lanka, including those from Jaffna University, are posted to an internship period of one year.

Only 31 medical interns were posted to JTH by the Health Ministry in 2006 when the minimum requirement was 51.

For year 2007, only 19 medical interns are to be posted to JTH, and with this shortage the hospital will not be able to fulfil the needs of the public, a member of the association said.

The Health Ministry action is another calculated measure of the Government of Sri Lanka to create additional diffculties to Jaffna residents, he added.