The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) says the ongoing islandwide strike will continue until 8.00 am tomorrow, while claiming that newly qualified doctors applied for post-intern appointments due to threats and pressure.
Speaking during a media briefing, GMOA representatives said the strike, which began at 8.00 am yesterday, remains in effect across the country following a decision taken at an emergency executive committee meeting held yesterday evening.
The union had earlier called on the new doctors not to apply for the appointments, but now claimed many had gone ahead due to pressure allegedly exerted by authorities.
According to the GMOA, the doctors had been threatened with removal from the state service, suspension of salaries, and eviction from official quarters, creating fear and uncertainty over their future employment.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said that of the 453 doctors who completed their internship this term, 435 — or 96% — had applied for their subsequent appointments before the deadline at 12.00 noon on April 4.
The GMOA argued that the high number of applications should not be viewed as voluntary compliance, but as a result of intimidation and coercion.
The strike is being implemented across hospitals islandwide, except at children’s hospitals, maternity hospitals, kidney hospitals, mental health institutions, cancer hospitals and military hospitals.
The GMOA said emergency treatment services continue uninterrupted at all hospitals.
- The association has called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to intervene and begin discussions, saying it is still prepared to resolve the issue through dialogue. (Newswire)