GMOF accuses GMOA of acting illegally

The Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) has, in a media statement, said that it is illegal for the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) to exert pressure on the Health Ministry over doctors’ transfers.

The statement signed by President of the GMOF, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, says there is an injunction order against the GMOA and its Working Committee and it is illegal for the officials of the GMOA to use their designations as the injunction is in force.

However, those officials still continue to use their designations to criticise the government and others and exert pressure on the Ministry of Health to manipulate the transfers of doctors, port intern training appointments and continue to hold Room No 07 of the first Floor of the Ministry of Health as a trade union office.

In addition, they have given instructions to make deductions from the salaries of the members of the GMOA.

The action by those who continue to hold the offices of GMOA is in violation of the injunction given against them by the Court and we demand the Secretary to the Ministry of Health to take legal action against them,” Dr Bellana has said in the statement.

Dr Bellana has said that the GMOA and GMOF are the two main trade union bodies representing the medical practitioners in the country and the main difference between the two organisations is that the latter in its constitution itself has forbidden any trade union action at the expense of patients.

He said that a GMOF delegation met with Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Monday (13) to explain the undue influence by the GMOA and to register their opposition. Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Additional Secretary Dr. Sunil de Alwis, Director General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardana, Deputy Director Generals of Health Drs. Lal Panapitiya and G Wijesuriya and Director Tertiary Services Dr. Ianthi Karunaratne attended the meeting representing the Ministry of Health.

“We pointed out at the meeting that a fraud was being committed in the name of re-attachment of doctors so that the henchmen of GMOA could continue to serve in the same hospitals for over 20 years.”