The Government Midwives’ Association warns that the maternity and children’s health service is at risk of being severely affected from the 1st of January.
Speaking at a media briefing, Chairperson of the Association Devika Kodituwakku said there is a severe shortage of family healthcare workers at present.
She noted that the crisis will arise owing to employees who have completed 60 years having to retire according to the new government regulation.
Kodituwakku said the number of retirements at the end of the 31st of December 2022 is significant as individuals between 61 and 64 years are also set to retire.
She claimed that such a large number of individuals retiring will have a negative impact on the health service resulting in maternity and children’s services being affected.
She also charged that the government has no programme in place to meet the vacancies that will arise in the health service adding that the Ministry of Health also lacks a programme to prevent a disruption of services.
