Severe staff shortages: X-Ray services disrupted in 6 Sri Lankan hospitals

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Association of Government Radiologic Technologists said that X-ray examinations have come to a halt in six hospitals across Sri Lanka.

This is due to the shortage of staff needed to conduct X-ray examinations.

Chairman of the Government Radiology Technologists Association Chanaka Dharmawickrama said operations were hampered at the Kiribathgoda Base Hospital, Minuwangoda Base Hospital, Eheliyagoda Base Hospital, Borella Ayurveda Teaching Hospital and two other hospitals.

The X-ray Examination Unit at the Accident Ward of the National Hospital in Colombo has been non-operational for three weeks.

PET scan tests at the National Hospital, which were also previously halted due to staff shortages, have now resumed. In this case, staff from another unit were reassigned to perform PET scans.

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told News 1st cited the current economic situation as a hindrance to recruit more staff to address the issue.

However, the Health Minister expressed optimism that in the 2024 budget, the President will focus on and facilitate recruitment to alleviate this problem.