In a concerning development showcasing the severe shortage of medical specialists, it has been revealed that six out of the eleven Paediatric Cardiologists have migrated sparking grave concerns over the management of Paediatric Cardiology services, Daily Mirror learns.

According to reliable sources, the standard number of fully qualified Pediatric Cardiologists should be twenty. However, the current count stands at only eleven, with six of them having migrated.

Presently, there are only five fully qualified Paediatric Cardiologists available at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), Sirimavo Bandaranayake Specialized Children's Hospital, Jaffna Teaching Hospital, and the Teaching Hospital Kurunegala.

A senior Paediatric Cardiologist told Daily Mirror that this shortage has led to an increase in the number of children being sent to LRH for further treatment.

“While it is normal for children to be referred to LRH, the recent rise in numbers can possibly be attributed to the shortage of specialists, the health expert added.

Out of the four Paediatric Cardiologists at LRH, two have also migrated, further exacerbating concerns regarding the management of cardiology services.

The health authorities are grappling with an array of issues related to the health sector with the dearth of medical specialists being a prominent issue. At present, the issue is being addressed; however, according to health authorities, the matter requires at least three more years to be fully sorted.