GMOA threatens strike over Ministry official’s actions

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has threatened to launch a countrywide strike against what it calls unilateral actions of Deputy Director General (Medical Services 11) at the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya.

In a letter dated 16 August, GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge has informed the Health Secretary of his union’s decision to strike, following an executive committee meeting on 23 August, unless punitive measures are taken against Dr. Wijesuriya, the incumbent Director at Lady Ridgeway Hospital.

Dr. Aluthge has said they were compelled to take action as certain interested parties at the Health Ministry continued to protect Dr. Wijesuriya.

The GMOA has demanded to know how Dr. Wijesuriya bypassed the Health Secretary and Director General of Health Services to deal with the Secretary to the President directly.

The GMOA has also asked whether Dr. Wijesuriya is qualified to call himself a specialist. The trade union has pointed out that Dr. Wijesuriya declined to carry out instructions issued by DGHS, pertaining to a crisis that developed at ward 8 B of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital.

In addition to those accusations, the GMOA alleged that Dr. Wijesuriya held additional stocks of insulin at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital whereas other hospitals experienced severe shortages of the same and caused unnecessary complications by misinterpretation of facts before the public. (SF)