The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has given the authorities 48 hours to announce a clear time frame for resolving long-standing issues affecting doctors and the public health system, warning that failure to do so could result in intensified trade union action.
In a media statement issued on Monday, the GMOA said the 2025 budget has failed to provide meaningful solutions to the genuine problems faced by doctors and healthcare staff, creating serious uncertainty over the future of Sri Lanka’s free healthcare system.
The association noted that it had previously submitted detailed proposals and information to the President and other relevant authorities ahead of the budget presentation, but said the lack of attention to these submissions had contributed to the current crisis.
While several trade union actions have already been undertaken, the GMOA stressed that no full-scale strike has yet been declared within the hospital system.
It said its primary request remains the announcement of a practical and sustainable action plan, along with a specific timeline, aimed at safeguarding both the medical profession and the national healthcare system.
The GMOA said it closely observed the recent budget committee debate at the Health Ministry, where numerous issues affecting the sector were raised in Parliament. Although the Health Minister proposed several solutions in his response, the absence of a defined time frame has led to further uncertainty regarding implementation.
An emergency executive committee meeting of the GMOA held on Monday unanimously agreed that setting a clear timeline for the proposed solutions is essential. The association has therefore decided to allow a 48-hour period for the responsible authorities to announce such a plan.
If this fails, the matter will be taken up at the GMOA’s central committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 26, where decisions on more stringent trade union action will be discussed.
The GMOA called on the President, the Health Minister and other responsible officials to intervene urgently and present a time-bound solution package to prevent further deterioration of the situation within the healthcare system. (Newswire)