GMOA strike continues

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The countrywide strike launched by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) entered the second day yesterday. Discussions with the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, and GMOA representatives have failed.

GMOA Executive Committee member, Dr. Prasad Colambage said that they would continue their union action until their demands were met.

“We had meetings with senior Ministry officials. They, too, consider our demands fair. They will discuss with the Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella, and get back to us,” he said.

GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal 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 effected 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.

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, Dr.Fernando said.

The Ministry of Health claimed that the strike had greatly inconvenienced the people.

President of the Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) Dr. Rukshan Bellana said that the GMOA had taken union action in a bid to attract post interns to become its members.

“They want to convince the young doctors that they are calling all the shots. The poor people are suffering because of this needless action,” he said.