Sri Lanka's Health Ministry has moved to formally study the proposed establishment of an intermediate cadre for medical officers, with a six-member expert committee appointed to examine the proposal and submit recommendations within one month.
The committee will be headed by Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Hasanka Wijemuni.
The appointment follows instructions from the Minister of Health and Mass Media to Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe.
What the committee will examine
The expert committee has been tasked with examining several fundamental aspects of the proposed intermediate cadre.
These include the definition and scope of the intermediate cadre, medical fields or areas to be included, the procedure for selecting medical officers, the required period of service, benefits associated with the proposed cadre and transfer arrangements.
Professional bodies and stakeholders to be consulted
The committee is also expected to obtain views and proposals from relevant professional institutions and other stakeholders before finalising its recommendations.
This consultation is intended to inform the framework ultimately submitted to the Health Ministry.
Recommendations due within one month
The committee has been asked to complete its examination and submit recommendations within one month.
The recommendations may then inform decisions on whether and how an intermediate medical-officer cadre should be established.
Intermediate cadre has not yet been established
The appointment of the committee does not mean that a new intermediate cadre has already been created.
At this stage, the Government has established an expert process to study the proposal and recommend its definition, eligibility and selection, fields covered, service period, benefits and transfer arrangements.
Any eventual implementation will depend on decisions made after the committee's work and other required administrative processes.