The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has warned that it is prepared to further intensify ongoing trade union action aimed at safeguarding Sri Lanka’s free public health and hospital system, citing unresolved professional and administrative issues.
In a media release issued today, the GMOA said its central committee had unanimously decided to continue islandwide trade union action, noting that the measures reflect long-standing professional challenges faced by the medical community.
The association said the current action involves withdrawing from duties that doctors had been performing beyond official service requirements, often at personal risk and without additional facilities or financial benefits. It stressed that any inconvenience caused to the public as a result should be the responsibility of the government and the Minister of Health.
The GMOA also rejected claims circulating in some quarters that the trade union action is linked to the medical transfers process. It said its position remains that transfers should be carried out strictly in accordance with accepted procedures.
However, the association said nearly 8,000 medical transfers have yet to be properly implemented due to inefficiencies among certain senior officials within the Health Ministry.
The GMOA further claimed that inaccurate information provided to the Health Minister by some officials had resulted in contradictory public statements, causing damage to both the ministry and the minister’s public image.
According to the association, its 23,000-member body is calling for medical transfers to be carried out without political interference and through established procedures, while stressing that the ongoing trade union action is based on a wider set of demands.
These include obtaining Cabinet approval for the creation of a distinct “Sri Lanka Medical Service” covering all categories of doctors, updating the DAT allowance, resolving transport-related issues in line with Circular 22/99, making the additional duties allowance a permanent benefit, addressing issues related to research allowances, resolving problems faced by postgraduate trainee doctors, and updating the approved cadre of doctors in the public health system.
The GMOA also called for discussions with the Ministry of Finance, with a defined timeline, to resolve the issues raised.
The association warned that if the government and Health Ministry continue to ignore these concerns, it will unanimously move to further escalate trade union action.
As part of the next phase, the GMOA said all Medical Officers of Health and Additional Medical Officers of Health islandwide will be summoned to the association’s headquarters on February 11 to discuss public health sector challenges. Decisions taken following that meeting will determine future trade union action, it said. (Newswire)