The Public Service United Nurses’ Union has expressed concern that the government’s move to reduce the mandatory retirement age for nurses to 60 years could exacerbate the ongoing shortage of healthcare personnel in the country.
President of the Union, Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero, said that the decision poses a serious risk to the stability of the nursing workforce and could have long-term implications for the healthcare system.
The Thero’s remarks come in the wake of a circular issued by the Secretary of the Ministry of Health on July 4, instructing that all nurses who have reached the age of 60 must retire with immediate effect.
The circular follows a Supreme Court interim order dated March 6, which suspended a previous ruling by the Court of Appeal that extended the retirement age of nurses to 63 years.
The Supreme Court’s order remains in effect pending the outcome of the Ministry of Health’s petition challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision.
Union officials warn that retiring experienced nurses at a time when hospitals are already understaffed could place additional strain on public health services, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Leave a comment