Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa said post-internship doctors who fail to apply for public service appointments before 12:00 noon on Saturday (4) will not be recruited into the public service and will lose their current positions and salaries.
“If any doctor fails to apply before Saturday noon, they will not be able to join the government service. Their service at their current hospitals will end, and their salaries will be stopped,” he said.
The Minister made these comments in response to questions from journalists, over a token strike launched by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) which the minister criticised as unjustified and politically motivated.
“This strike is being carried out with full knowledge that it causes hardship to the public,” he said, adding that patients seeking treatment at outpatient departments (OPD) were being inconvenienced.
He further stressed that the deadline would not be extended under any circumstances.
“This list will not be extended by even one minute after 12:00 noon on Saturday,” he said.
The minister noted that doctors who miss the deadline may only be considered in a future intake, following the approval of the Public Service Commission. He said such applicatnts would be placed at the bottom of the list, below the next batch of around 1,300 applicants.
According to the minister, the application process is currently open for 453 doctors who have completed their internship, with appointments to be made.
He alleged that the GMOA was attempting to influence these doctors against applying.
“The process currently being carried out is inhumane and unfair. These doctors are being misled and intimidated,” he said, urging them not to be influenced by external pressure.
The minister also warned that any threats or intimidation against doctors would be investigated, including the Sri Lanka Police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
“If any group or individual has threatened or intimidated doctors, they should report it immediately. We will take action,” he said. (Newswire)