Docs on countrywide strike today

Accident wards, maternity units,  paediatric, cancer and kidney hospitals spared

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) would launch a countrywide strike today, GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando said yesterday.

Dr. Fernando said that they had held a token strike on Monday as the post-internship appointments had been made by the Ministry of Health arbitrarily.

“On Monday, the Central Committee of the GMOA met and decided that the transfers of specialist doctors and grade doctors had been done without following the correct procedure. The 2022 annual transfer list hasn’t even been published yet and the various issues created during the time of Rajitha Senaratne have not been addressed despite a Cabinet Decision,” he said.

The Health Ministry had not issued a gazette on the Sri Lanka Medical Council and officials had also violated the national salary policy, the GMOA Secretary said.

“However, doctors attached to accident wards, paediatric hospitals, maternity wards, cancer and CKDu hospitals will continue to work. COVID vaccination and other affiliated services too will continue,” he said.

Meanwhile the Health Ministry said that GMOA’s trade union action was an act of sabotage. Speaking to the media, Deputy Director General of Health Ministry (Medical Services) Dr. G. Wijesuriya said that there were no issues in the transfers or appointment of doctors.

“Neither the Health Minister nor the Secretary to the Ministry can influence the internship appointments. These are based on vacancy list and service requirements. In fact, a representative of the GMOA had signed the vacancy list. We have based the appointments on this list”, Dr. Wijesuriya said.