There are no moves to bring foreign doctors to work in government hospitals in Sri Lanka as a solution to the shortage of medical professionals, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said today.

The Minister told Parliament that the government has no intention of bringing down doctors from foreign countries.

He said this in response to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who asked whether the government has planned to bring down foreign doctors.

The Minister said only two options are available to address the shortage of medical professionals, either to increase medical faculties or allow private medical faculties to operate in Sri Lanka.

He said some 3,000 medical students who were qualified from foreign countries are not allowed to sit for the Act 16 examination in Sri Lanka and added that the Act should be amended to allow at least students who are qualified from the first 1,000 recognized medical faculties in the world.