A children's ward of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital has been closed since yesterday (30) as all the four pediatricians who worked at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital have now migrated.. Dr. Ajantha Karunaratne, Assistant Secretary of the GMOA, said that due to the closure of the children's ward belonging to the Rajarata University Faculty of Medicine's Professorial Unit, medical students have also lost opportunities to receive clinical training.

Dr. Rajakaruna said that it was a dire situation as the closed one was the main ward for children at the Anuradhapura Hospital. He also added that another group of specialist doctors were also preparing to leave the country.

Mr. Rajakaruna said that 210 medical students were undergoing training at the children's ward at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

The assistant secretary said that apart from the Tambuttegama base hospital, none of the hospitals in Anuradhapura district have pediatricians specialists and because of this, the people of the district are facing serious problems.

He also said that there is currently no permanent doctor to work in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital and the former doctors have gone abroad.