Medical experts should handle Covid outbreak, not trade unionists – GMOF tells Health Minister

The Covid-19 situation in the country should be handled by professionals and experts in the field and not by trade union leaders, the Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) told Health Minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi during a meeting on Wednesday.

A GMOF led by its president, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, met with the Minister at ‘Suwasiripaya’ to discuss a gamut of issues pertaining to the government health sector.

The GMOF explained its policies and assured the Minister that, as a responsible trade union, they don’t believe in misleading the public by “unnecessarily over-talking on the Covid-19 pandemic the way some unqualified trade unionists are doing now”.

Among the matters discussed were doctors’ salary anomalies created by the 2006 circular, concerns expressed over arbitrary transfers of medical officers, transport issues of doctors and poor official quarters facilities.

Describing the meeting as “very cordial and fruitful”, a GMOF spokesman said the Minister was receptive to the matters discussed, and assured positive action to remedy the grievances.

The GMOF delegation led by Dr. Bellana comprised 20 committee members, including Dr. Deepal Attanayake (Vice President and Dr. Kamal Perera (Secretary).

Secretary to the Health Ministry, Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Deputy Director-General of Medical Services, Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, Deputy Director-General, Dr. Lal Panapitiya and Private Secretary to the Minister, Kanchana Jayaratne, were also present at the discussion.