Health sector faces strike gridlock amidst pandemic

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) yesterday vowed to continue with its strike after discussions with Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi failed.

The strike launched yesterday by 14 unions has crippled the health sector. OPDs were not operational and PCR and rapid antigen tests, CT and MRI scans were not conducted.

President of the JCPSM, Ravi Kumudesh said that the Minister had not been able to give an assurance that their concerns would be addressed.

“The Minister could have at least promised to present a Cabinet paper about our concerns. However, she said she wanted time to decide whether to present a Cabinet paper or not. It is obvious that she is under pressure,” Kumudesh said.

Thus, the JCPSM urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister to intervene and find redress to their concerns.

The Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) too withdrew from their duties, in support of the JCPSM. PHIU head Upul Rohana said that they had withdrawn from COVID-19 vaccination, tracing COVID-19 patients and their associates.

“The health sector is a mess and the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) is to be blamed for this. Everyone in the health sector made sacrifices during the COVID-19 period and no one resorted to union action. However, a few months ago the doctors got a significant boost in their allowances.”

The Government Nursing Officers Union (GNOU) has warned that if the Cabinet does not approve the guarantees given by President Rajapaksa that five of their demands will be met, they too will strike. The President had made the promise during a meeting with the Public Service United Nurses Union (PSUNU), led by Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera.

Among the demands agreed by the President is the establishment of a nursing university, elevating Grade One nursing officers to Staff Officers, promoting nurses to grade 2, from grade 3, in five years and to grade 1 in another seven years, a Rs. 20,000 allowances for uniforms, appoint a committee to consider the proposal to make the work week 30 hours (currently its 36).

The GMOA too warned yesterday that it would resort to union action if the government granted the nurses’ demands.