Dual practice and inequities in access to healthcare: A qualitative study from Kandy

Sri Lanka's public and private health sectors are intimately connected by doctors who divide their work time between public and private. Such dual practice has allowed the government to maintain a strong public sector physician workforce at relatively low levels of health spending, but its implications for access are understudied. This paper examines the nuts and bolts of doctors' dual practice from the perspective of users. While showcasing inequities in access, the findings call for intervention by the relevant regulatory bodies and medical associations to uphold the ethical and professional standards of medical practice in Sri Lanka.