The Ministry of Health says that there is a dearth of nearly 1500 specialist doctors in the country.

Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Anura Jayawickrama said that there was a dearth in surgeons, psychiatrists and cardiologists in Sri Lanka.

A senior official at the the Health Ministry said that one of the main reasons for the lack of specialist surgeons is the fact that specialist doctors who travel overseas do not return to the country.

The senior official said that if steps are not taken to fill the vacancies soon, the health sector would face a crisis in the future.