The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has accused a section of Health Ministry officials of straining its relations with the government. Secretary to the GMOA Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa has, in a media statement, claimed these officials act in contravention of the government policy.
Dr. Sugathadasa issued the statement following a meeting between the members of the new GMOA Executive Committee and Health and Mass media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa on Friday (01). Declaring that they had focused on problems faced by the medical profession and the health sector, Dr. Sugathadasa said their primary concern was unnecessary problems created by the Health Ministry regarding the annual transfers of Grade Medical Officers.
Among the issues taken up at the discussion with Minister Jayatissa were a nine-month delay in implementing the Grade Medical Officers’ annual transfers, the preparation of a list of post-intern appointments contrary to the directives of the Public Service Commission (PSC), and without approval of the Transfer Board, the Health Ministry’s failure to hold Appeals Board meetings at appropriate times, unilateral alteration of difficult area postings list, delaying it by one and a half years, and serious problems caused by the unacceptable and illegal conduct of Medical Services Director (MSD).
The GMOA official said that they would bring the MSD Director’s conduct to the notice of the PSC. According to him, the GMOA would consult its membership today ahead of an emergency Executive Committee meeting, scheduled for Tuesday. (SF)
