Medical specialists condemn striking health unions taking poor patients hostage

The ongoing health sector strike by 31 unions has made the poorest of the poor absolutely helpless, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) says. Issuing a press release the AMS has said it feels that the health sector trade unions’ move to declare a continuous strike is ill-timed and somewhat selfish at this critical juncture from the patients’ point of view.

AMS President, Lakkumar Fernando has, in a media statement, said that his association strongly believes that industrial action should generally be considered as the last resort in winning any trade union demand.

Excerpts of the AMS medis statement: “We have observed that trade union actions in the recent past have resulted in severe public disgust and dismay, generally towards the public sector. In the recent past, the government has succumbed to trade union pressure granting certain public servants monetary and other perks. These ad-hoc decisions have opened avenues for various groups to fight for their claims.

“If this continues in the same direction, all powerful trade unions will be claiming various demands leading the nation into chaos. As an important professional group in the public sector, we urge the government to work for a long lasting solution in correcting salary anomalies in conformity with the national policy and through the National pay Commission giving due consideration to educational and professional qualifications.

“We urge you not to give in to the pressure exerted by certain health sector trade unions causing chaos in the country severely inconveniencing the poor public. We hope and pray that the government will take a serious note of this potential danger and imminent cascade effect which can follow.”