Sri Lanka health service has a shortage of 17,000 nurses, says the Nurses' Union

The Chairman of Sri Lanka Public Service United Nurses' Union (PSUNU) Ven. Muruttettuwe Ananda Thero says that the opening of new wards and units in hospitals without increasing the cadre of nurses has caused a severe pressure on the nursing service.


He pointed out that around 41,000 nurses are needed for the healthy maintaining of the health service. However, at present there are only a cadre of 24,000 nurses, he said.

The PSUNU has tried to focus the attention of the authorities on the matter to no avail, the Thero said.

In the National Hospital alone there is a shortage of around 1,000 nurses, said the PSUNU Chairman.